On Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidance on Sunday regarding fighting COVID-19 that includes a recommendation to cancel or postpone in-person events of 50 or more people throughout the United States for the next eight weeks.
Previous guidelines being used by some state and local health departments recommended canceling events of 250 people, so that’s superseded.
“Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations (older adults and those with heart or lung disease or diabetes), hand hygiene, and social distancing,” the CDC said on its website. When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual.”
The recommendation does not apply “to the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses,” although schools throughout Florida, including in Osceola County, will be closed through at least March 30, and schools in other parts of the country will be out longer — through at least April 6 in Wisconsin and April 20 in New York City.
“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,” the CDC said. “This recommendation is not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials.”
