Summer events should be canceled due to coronavirus, Whatcom Health Director says
The Whatcom County Health Department is recommending that communities cancel summertime events throughout the county due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to a press release sent Tuesday, April 14.
“We see positive effects of the efforts to contain the virus, in large part due to the social distancing measures put into place in March,” Health Department Director Erika Lautenbach said in the release.
But “if group gatherings resume too soon, the virus’ spread could be deadlier,” according to the release.
Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order extends to May 4. The state has credited the social distancing effort with reducing the impacts of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.
Lautenbach said she recommends that all summer events, including parades, community festivals and fireworks displays, be canceled to ensure that the coronavirus doesn’t re-emerge in large numbers.
“I recognize that this recommendation creates considerable disappointment,” Lautenbach said in the release. “However, the long-term health of our community and our economy could be further damaged if we move too quickly to resume the activities that we know will put us at risk.”
COVID-19 has already cost Whatcom County one of its signature events, with the cancellation last month of the Ski to Sea relay race held annually on Memorial Day weekend. A number of other summer events are now working to determine their best course of action following the health department’s recommendation.
Fair status to be determined
The Northwest Washington Fair will work with county officials to “determine the most prudent course of action regarding this year’s annual fair,” according to Fair Manager Jim Baron in an email to The Bellingham Herald. The fair is scheduled to run Aug. 17-22.
“The goal of the Northwest Washington Fair always has been to have a community event that is safe for everyone,” Baron wrote. “COVID-19 has complicated that.”
Baron said the fair already works closely with the county health department and local law enforcement to put on its event annually.
“Right now, there are hundreds and hundreds of young people purchasing and preparing animals — pigs, beef, chickens — for participating in this year’s fair,” Baron wrote. “We are going to do everything we possibly can to not disappoint them.
“The fair has served as a community gathering place for over a century, and we look forward to celebrating together again as soon as it is deemed safe to do so.”
Blaine Old Fashioned 4th Celebration: Blaine’s Independence Day celebration in downtown and at the Blaine Harbor have been canceled, according to the event webpage run by the Blaine Chamber of Commerce.
Bellingham Festival of Music: The 27th summer season, originally scheduled for July 1-24 at the Western Washington University Performing Arts Center, has already been canceled, according to a press release on the event’s website.
Bellingham Bay Marathon: With more than five months remaining before the Sept. 27 race day, event organizers told The Herald in an email that they are still planning to hold the race at this time.
Old Settler’s Weekend: The City of Ferndale in a Facebook post Wednesday announced that it has canceled both Old Settler’s Weekend and the Ferndale Street Festival. All parks and recreation activities or other large gatherings have been canceled through Aug. 31.
This story was originally published April 14, 2020 at 6:31 PM.
