Health officials and leaders around the Finger Lakes have said that its safe to hold events outdoors, as the number of vaccinations increase, and data grows around the idea of safe outdoor gathering amid the coronavirus pandemic.
That said, the state hasn’t released clear updated guidance yet- despite the fact that they gave the New York State Fair the greenlight to take place this summer.
Two high-profile Monroe County leaders, who oversee the Finger Lakes region’s COVID response issued a joint-statement- calling on Gov. Cuomo to release guidance.
“COVID-19 spreads primarily through close person-to-person contact, which is far more common indoors. We should encourage more outdoor events where risk is lower, especially with so many people vaccinated. Let’s work to keep as many of our #ROC outdoor festivals open as possible,” Monroe County Public Health Director Mike Mendoza said.
“While we are disappointed with these developments, we also recognize that advanced planning for successful outdoor festivals under the current guidance is incredibly challenging,” they added.
There has been a slew of festival and fair cancellations over the last week, due to a lack of clear guidance from state officials.
FingerLakes1.com is the region’s leading all-digital news publication. The company was founded in 1998 and has been keeping residents informed for more than two decades. Have a lead? Send it to [email protected].