COVID precautions will be in place
After having to cancel last year’s fair because of COVID-19, Okanogan County is moving ahead with extra precautions to increase safety at this year’s event. The 74th-annual Okanogan County Fair runs from Thursday, Sept. 9 to Sunday, Sept. 12.
There will be masks, hand-washing stations, hand sanitizer and reminder signs at entrances and throughout the fairgrounds. Food vendors will have to wear masks. There will be extra cleaning of all buildings and surfaces, Okanogan County Emergency Manager Maurice Goodall said.
At the livestock auction, they’ll have additional bleachers to assist with social distancing, Goodall said.
Masks are required in indoor spaces in Washington, which includes the Agriplex and some of the exhibit buildings. But many spaces at the fair, like the animal barns, are outdoors or not fully enclosed. People will be advised to wear masks and to maintain extra distance, Goodall said.
“We’re asking people to help us out and make things work and avoid an outbreak,” he said.
At a meeting last week with Goodall and the county commissioners, Community Health Director Lauri Jones said she believes the county can have a safe, successful fair. She urged the commissioners to tell people to take personal responsibility to protect themselves, their families and their community, acknowledging that fair-goers might resist a strict directive.
The commissioners discussed the possibility of appointing a health officer to oversee precautions. The officer would be in an advisory role, they agreed. They’re still working on details, Goodall said.
Some county fairs in the state have been canceled this year, including Thurston, Clark and Clallam.
Fair Info
People can get text updates about the fair, including livestock exhibits and music performances, through the Emergency Management notification system. To sign up, text OKFAIR to 888777.
