Hospital Association Says Washington State Fair Is a ‘Bad Idea’ | Eater Seattle

"I would reconsider attending the Washington State Fair in Puyallup, scheduled to run September 3-26, after the Washington State Hospital Association warned that rising COVID cases and hospitalizations from the highly contagious delta variant make large gatherings risky; WSHA president Cassie Sauer even said, “we think it’s a bad idea.” The fair, which dates back to the early 20th century and draws more than a million visitors, was canceled last year for the first time since World War II and was reinstated in June 2021 after state restrictions were lifted. Official fair guidelines do not require proof of vaccination for entry, though the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department has issued a mask mandate requiring masks at all times, indoors and outdoors, regardless of vaccination status, and will provide masks for those who don’t have one; fair organizers say they will “continue to put safety and health first.”" - Gabe Guarente