There’s one week to go before the Minnesota State Fair opens its gates for the first time in almost two years, and masks and vaccinations will not be required according to the latest guidance from fair officials. However, both are “encouraged to limit opportunities for coronavirus transmission”.
With rising COVID-19 cases caused by the delta variant fair leaders considered mask or vaccine requirements but ended up going for the volunteer guidance for attendees.
Related
There are also no attendance caps or a requirement for a negative test like Lollapalooza instituted in Chicago recently, and some other large gatherings have instituted.
What does this mean for people who are working at the Fair this year, particularly with the surge of new cases? WCCO’s Susie Jones spoke to Jason Giandalia, owner and operator of Minnesnowii Shave Ice which has been in the West End Market since 2015.
Giandalia says he supports the decisions the fair leaders have made so far, agreeing that any mandates would be difficult to enforce.
“The fair is doing the right thing,” Giandalia says. “Everything has changed so much within this past couple of weeks. I support everything that they're doing. I do like their recommendation saying, hey, mask if you can. And it's hard to force everyone to wear a mask at the fair. Just in my opinion.”
Giandalia does say he will probably wear a mask as will his staff.
“I am vaccinated and pretty much most of my staff is vaccinated,” Giandalia told WCCO. “And I think we still will wear a mask inside the booth.”
The fair guidance also says that anyone not feeling well should stay home, something Giandalia says he believes fairgoers will abide by.
“Here in Minnesota most people are responsible and if they're not feeling well, then I would hope that they just wouldn't want to come to the fair and get everyone else sick,” Giandalia says. “You know, it is kind of close quarters a little bit if you're standing in line and if someone starts coughing and sneezing or obviously looks sick, then I think people are going to be a little more conscious, more aware. Hey, maybe you shouldn't be here.
Giandalia says that at this point, he’s not worried about his or his staff’s safety.
“I'm not going to be too worried. There's always a little bit, but I mean, for the most part, we've been in this pandemic now for a while and you know, I've been pretty careful throughout.”
In a release sent out Wednesday, the State Fair said:
“The Minnesota State Fair needs every fair fan to do their part and most of all, do the right thing. The current health situation is not an ideal backdrop for the Great Minnesota Get-Together tradition. We understand that by urging rather than requiring people to follow current guidance, many of our usual fair fans will not be comfortable attending. We ask that those who attend do so because they are willing to follow our health guidance – not because it’s mandated, but because it’s the right thing to do.
We acknowledge that no event can be completely risk-free, and we’re counting on you to do your part to help us present as safe an event as we can by following this health guidance.”
Click here to see the full statement and guidance from the Minnesota State Fair.
Related
