Minnesota State Fair (2 MILLION attendance) considering indoor mask mandate

[bullwinkle428]

The Minnesota State Fair will likely require face masks indoors when it opens on Aug. 26.

Jerry Hammer, the fair's general manager, told Bring Me The News that while no final decision has been made as of Tuesday morning, an indoor mask mandate appears likely. "Based on what we know today, that's a likely scenario," he said, though he noted things can change quickly.

The rapid spread of the highly transmissible delta variant and corresponding rise in infections has prompted a flurry of vaccine and/or mask-related requirement announcements from businesses, venues and institutions throughout the state, including the University of Minnesota, Target, First Avenue, and municipalities.

As of Tuesday morning, the entire seven-county Twin Cities metro has "substantial" transmission, meaning the CDC recommends the use of masks in indoor public spaces.

https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/minnesota-state-fair-preparing-to-require-masks-indoors-capacity-limits-not-off-the-table

Personal note : I attended the MSF in 2019, on the final Sunday (day before Labor Day). Attendance that day was approximately 245,000. It was a totally miserable experience for me, as it was such a wall-to-wall crush of people. I can't even imagine what it would be like during the time of a pandemic.

In addition, the Iowa State Fair (1 million attendees in 2019) is going ahead with absolutely no Covid-related protocols.

ETA : here are some notes on attendance numbers in recent years...
https://www.mnstatefair.org/about-the-fair/attendance/

[madaboutharry]

1. The Iowa State Fair is going to be a massive disaster.

The unvaccinated from the hinterlands of Iowa (AKA - Vichy Iowa) will descend on Des Moines, spread the virus all over town, and the hospitals will get overwhelmed.

Kim Reynolds is an idiot. This is on her.

[bullwinkle428]

2. I live in Iowa - Kim Reynolds comes across like she's Ron DeSantis's

more dull-witted second cousin!

But my fellow "Iowegians" just love her.

[madaboutharry]

3. Tell me about it!

She is the dimwit in the republican family tree.

[Bettie]

10. I think she's competing with Christy Noem for

the regional title of worst governor.

And yeah, far too many adore her. WTF?

[Strelnikov_]

7. But it's not Vichy Iowans, it's the immigrants

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds on Tuesday (7/27) blamed migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border for some of the nation's Covid-19 spike, saying "none of them are vaccinated and they’re getting dispersed throughout the country."

While public health experts have been citing the virus' delta variant and lagging U.S. vaccination efforts for the latest coronavirus surge, Reynolds said partial responsibility rests with newcomers coming across the southern border.

"Part of the problem is the southern border is open and we’ve got 88 countries that are coming across the border and they don’t have vaccines," Reynolds told reporters Tuesday.

Will have to hand it to Covid Kim, though. She beat DeSantis to the talking point by a day or so last week.

[madaboutharry]

8. Yeah, in addition to being an idiot

she is also a racist.

[bluewater]

4. Just "considering" an indoor mask mandate?

Idiots.

[SoCalDavidS]

5. Must Not Be Too Hasty

Masks are hazardous for people's health after all.

[Strelnikov_]

6. Yes, "considering". Then again, it's not an ex-presidents birthday party . . .

where we all know all of the spread in the world comes from.

[iemanja]

9. making it indoor only is stupid

the whole fair takes place outside among huge crowds. Social distancing isn't even possible most days.