There’s ‘optimism’ about the 2021 Canfield Fair — but will we be free of health orders by then?
CEDARVILLE — Though new state health orders issued Thursday give a green light for Ohio’s fair season, Canfield Fair organizers are still hoping capacity restrictions will be lifted in time to book the big grandstand events for its 175th season.
Gov. Mike DeWine during a Thursday coronavirus briefing said he expects fairs in the state to continue this year, albeit with requirements for masks, social distancing and outdoor capacity, which is currently at 30 percent.
The announcement “gives us a pretty good sense of optimism,” said Ken Bigley, vice president of JAC Management, the company that books entertainment for the Canfield Fair.
Last year's fair was canceled due to the pandemic, though Junior Fair exhibitions were allowed to continue privately.
This year, JAC is proceeding “as we would any normal year” in terms of planning, Bigley said.
But for the entertainment options to be profitable, the fair must be permitted to operate at or near full capacity, he said.
Once the state reaches at least 50 or fewer new coronavirus cases per 100,000 people for two weeks, DeWine promised an end to pandemic-related restrictions.
"Certainly, it is possible by the time we get to the second month of fairs or the first month in June, we may be off health orders," the governor said Thursday. "We don't know. We just hope things continue to go well."
The state's rate of new cases in the past two weeks has improved, DeWine also announced Thursday, and it continues to move closer to the goal threshold needed for state health orders to be lifted.
This week, Ohio reported 155 new cases per 100,000 people in the past two weeks, down from about 180 cases last week. The all-time high was reported in December at 845 cases per 100,000 people.
The Canfield Fair is slated to kick off Sept. 1. JAC will have to officially book entertainment before then, but the company still has some time before the final decision must be made.
“We’re obviously hoping and praying we’re able to go through with everything,” he said.
In terms of other public health measures like masking and sanitizing, the shows can move forward as planned, even if those restrictions remain in place.
“Our biggest concern is safety,” Bigley said. “But we’re all itching to get back into business as soon as possible as well.”
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Mahoning Matters reporter Jess Hardin contributed to this report.
Other news
• According to the latest figures Thursday from the Ohio Department of Health, the state is reporting 984,934 confirmed or suspected cases of the coronavirus. There have been 19,672 confirmed or suspected cases in Mahoning County; 14,539 in Trumbull County; and 8,218 in Columbiana County.
• Statewide, the new adjusted COVID-19 death total is 17,662, including 557 in Mahoning County; 428 in Trumbull; and 213 in Columbiana. Mahoning County’s 557 reported COVID-19 deaths was eighth among Ohio’s 88 counties; Cuyahoga County had the most with 1,894. [NO LONGER UPDATED DAILY.]
• In nearby counties: Stark, 29,760 cases and 829 deaths; Portage, 11,246 cases and 180 deaths; and Ashtabula, 6,027 cases and 156 deaths. [DEATHS NO LONGER UPDATED DAILY.]
• Coronavirus vaccine eligibility expanded Thursday to include Ohioans who are aged 50 and older as well as Ohioans of any age who have Type 2 diabetes or end-stage renal disease. Though many Ohioans are still wondering when they'll eventually become eligible, President Joe Biden during a Thursday address announced he'll direct states to make every adult eligible by May 1 at the latest.
• This week, more Ohio counties were downgraded on the state’s COVID-19 advisory system from Level 3 “red” alert to Level 2 “yellow” alert, though the Mahoning Valley’s three counties remain at “red” alert and are still considered to have a high incidence of coronavirus transmission. More counties — about 20 in total this week — have fallen below that “high incidence” threshold, the governor reported Thursday.
• An estimated $700 million in federal COVID-19 relief is headed to local communities under the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, signed into law by President Joe Biden on Thursday. The funding isn’t just to help communities dig themselves out after a depressed and stunted year, but also to feed new developments that will fortify their economies for the future, said U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th.
• Mercy Health St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital will install a COVID-19 memorial to recognize the challenges Mahoning Valley, the country and the world has faced throughout the pandemic. The centerpiece will be a bronze sculpture by Timothy Schmalz titled “When I Was Sick” and is expected to be installed by September. The same sculpture is in the hospital of Santo Spirito in Rome, Italy.
• Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday said the state plans to expand the availability of coronavirus rapid testing at: federal qualified health centers, whose staff can administer them free of charge; local health departments, which are helping bring rapid tests to schools, nonprofits and first responders; public libraries, which are offering at-home rapid testing kits; and Ohio’s educational service centers, which will bring the tests into K-12 schools. At home testing is now available in 76 of Ohio’s 88 counties.
• According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health on Wednesday, there were 958,382 COVID-19 cases in the state which have led to 24,439 deaths. There have been 8.305 confirmed or suspected cases in Mercer County and 243 deaths; 6,225 cases in Lawrence County and 189 deaths. In Mercer County, 9,664 people have received the first of two vaccination doses and 14,291 have received both; in Lawrence County, 7,222 have received one dose; 6,986 have received both.
• The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services said Wednesday the latest federal stimulus package will help it prepare for life beyond the pandemic in the face of rising costs. Pennsylvania will receive $13 billion in state and local funding from the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan approved by Congress on Wednesday. Department officials hope the funding helps prepare for the sharp rise in eligible seniors coming over the next five years.
This story was originally published March 12, 2021 at 3:52 AM with the headline "There’s ‘optimism’ about the 2021 Canfield Fair — but will we be free of health orders by then?."