Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health supports new CDC guidelines for mass gatherings that recommend organizers for the next eight weeks cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more. The guidance is a proactive measure to reduce introduction of the coronavirus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection.
The full guidance details are available below:
Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals.
Therefore, CDC, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States. In the spirit of this recommendation, Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health has canceled our annual National Public Health Week events, including our April 9 Public Health Champion Breakfast. We still plan to announce the Health Champions at a later date.
Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing. When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual. This recommendation does not apply to the day-to-day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses. This recommendation is made in an attempt to reduce introduction of the virus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus. This recommendation is not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials.
On March 13, Douglas County Health Officer Dr. Thomas Marcellino ordered closures for 14 days of all K-12 schools, recreational facilities and public libraries in an effort to stem the outbreak of COVID-19.