The nonprofit e-newspaper for the Talbot County Community
Easton Mayor Robert Willey sat down Thursday morning with The Spy to discuss ongoing and upcoming projects around town, including a new section of Rails-to-Trails, one approved and one proposed residential development, and distribution of American Rescue Plan Act funds. The mayor also highlighted last month’s successful 50th anniversary Waterfowl Festival and Saturday night’s Christmas parade, which has more than 60 units participating.
This video is about 16 minutes long.
The Talbot County Health Department has launched a dedicated webpage to ensure large events occurring in Talbot County are conducted in a safe manner and in compliance with the governor’s executive orders.
The new webpage is accessible at bitly.com/talbotcovideventplanning and provides guidance during COVID for organizations and entities planning large events, gatherings, and social activities in Talbot County.
“We are all eager to have normalcy return to our lives, including the events we love in Talbot County,” says Talbot County Health Officer Dr. Maria Maguire. “We’re providing this resource to event planners so that precautions and safety measures are in place as we continue navigating toward the COVID-19 pandemic’s end.”
The webpage includes an online application for event planners to request Talbot County Health Department’s review of their COVID-19 safety plans for indoor and outdoor events, gatherings, and activities in Talbot County.
Organizers are asked to complete the application at least 30 days prior to the start of an event, gathering, or social activity for review and approval by the Talbot County Health Department.
“This new resource will help lower the risk of event staff, attendees, and Talbot residents contracting and spreading COVID-19 during events,” says Dr. Maguire. “This is an additional level of assurance to the public as we move forward as the weather warms, and events are being planned.”
Dr. Maguire says the Health Department’s review of COVID-19 safety plans does not negate the organization’s need to obtain any other governmental approval authorizing the event to occur.
The site provides CDC event guidance links and a list of local municipal and county personnel responsible for providing guidance on conducting events, gatherings, and activities within their jurisdictions.
More information and resources about Talbot County’s response to COVID-19 is at talbotcovid19.org and talbothealth.org.
The Washington College Center for Environment and Society offices will be closed to the public for the time being. This includes Semans-Griswold Environmental Hall, the Public Archaeology Lab, and the GIS Lab.
All events scheduled for the Spring 2020 semester have been postponed or cancelled. A full list is below:
CES Talks, scheduled for March 23, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. Cancelled
Upper Shore Youth Environmental Action Summit, scheduled for March 26, 2020 Cancelled
Public Archaeology Lab Open House, scheduled for April 3, 2020 Cancelled
Arbor Day with Dean Norton, scheduled for April 17, 2020 Postponed until 2021 Arbor Day Celebration
ShoreRivers’ State of the Chester, scheduled for April 24, 2020 Moving to a virtual platform. Follow along with ShoreRivers for updates.
C.E.S.’tival, featuring the High and Wides and the Pat McGee Band. Scheduled for April 25, 2020. Postponed. Date is TBD.
Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities. Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies. These events can be planned not only by organizations and communities but also by individuals.
Therefore, CDC, in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.
Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing. When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual.
This recommendation does not apply to the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses. This recommendation is made in an attempt to reduce introduction of the virus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus. This recommendation is not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials.
