Henry County Board of Health approves fair family request

MT. PLEASANT - The Henry County Board of Health approved a request by the Henry County Fair to allow immediate family to attend the event with presenters.

Previously, the board approved a plan which only would allow two additional people to attend with competitors. Public Health Director Shelley Van Dorin said immediate family would include siblings and grandparents.

'Jefferson County had a fair last week, and they didn't limit at all, and so Henry County was getting some pushback as to why we were so limiting,” Van Dorin said.

In discussion, board member Greg Moeller asked whether face masks would be provided to presenters and their family members and if they would be required. In reviewing the board's plans, Van Dorin noted fair volunteers and staff would all be wearing masks but didn't believe it was required for participants.

'I think it's an option. I don't think it's mandatory,” she said, 'I'm concerned with the heat a face mask would make them even hotter.”

Board member Lois Roth expressed some concern about loosening the restriction, especially in light of participants and their family members not being required to wear masks.

'It makes me extremely nervous,” Roth said. She added she felt the county was on a 'downward slide” because of general disregard for public health guidelines at other events such as baseball games and graduation parties.

'I went to one New London game, and no one was wearing a mask,” she said.

Board President Mary Liechty said she felt the specific request by the Fair Board was not out of the question and noted presenters would only be coming in 'one group at a time” with limited exposure to other families.

'I don't really see it being that big of an issue. If they were all coming in at the same time and allowing family members to sit with other people's family members, then yes,” Liechty said.

Van Dorin added immediate family members are most likely already spending time together without masks on.

Board member Dr. Tom Bainbridge acknowledged that while people 'are tending to not follow guidelines,” current levels of people affected by the virus in the county and the guidelines set in place for the fair would make the request permissible. As of Wednesday afternoon, Henry County recorded 87 positive cases, according to data from the state.

'I think the risk is actually pretty low, the way they're doing it,” Bainbridge said.

The board voted unanimously to approve the request.