Tens of thousands of Chautauqua County residents can forgo their face masks beginning Wednesday after Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that New York state was officially adopting guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The guidance, released last week, means those fully vaccinated will no longer be required to wear masks or social distance in New York. People are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a two-dose series (Pfizer or Moderna vaccine) or two weeks after the Johnson & Johnson single-dose vaccine.

According to the state’s online tracker, 47,079 county residents have completed their vaccination series while 54,459 have received their first dose.

The decision for New York to officially adopt the updated CDC guidance has left local officials with some unanswered questions regarding its impact.

“The CDC’s guidance is encouraging and based on good science, but at this time in New York state, all we have is the governor’s announcement and we are waiting to see what written guidance comes from the state,” said Christine Schuyler, county public health director. “Businesses and venues need to know how or whether they are expected to enforce the policy, and individuals need to know what constitutes proof of vaccination.”

In a news release, Schuyler said she expects that some fully vaccinated individuals will continue to wear face masks in public to “protect themselves and others, such as children under the age of 12 who cannot get vaccinated against COVID-19 and medically fragile family members.”

In addition, the governor reiterated the following reopening announcements:

¯ May 19: most capacity restrictions are lifted on restaurants, museums and retail offices;

¯ May 31: indoor food and beverage curfew is lifted;

¯ outdoor gathering limit is already increased to 500;

¯ indoor gathering limit is already increased to 250; and

¯ indoor residential gathering limit is already increased to 50.

Meanwhile, those with COVID-19 in local hospitals remain low. The county Health Department on Monday reported three hospitalizations along with 26 new confirmed cases from Friday through Sunday. There are currently 73 active cases, 294 in quarantine and a seven-day positivity rate of 1.4%.

To date there have been 9,147 total confirmed cases, 8,921 recoveries and 153 virus-related deaths.

In Cattaraugus County, there have been 5,621 confirmed cases and 102 virus-related deaths.

STATE GIVES GUIDANCE FOR COUNTY FAIRS

While the Chautauqua County Fair has already been canceled for this summer, other county fairs have been given some guidance on what is required in order to take place in 2021. Cuomo announced additional guidance for county fairs and local festivals throughout New York. Local governments must permit county fairs and local festivals and consider COVID-19 health guidelines this year.

State Department of Health approval will be required for events with over 5,000 expected attendees, consistent with existing review process.

County fairs and local festivals must ensure that the total number of attendees is limited so that 6 feet of distance can be maintained between individuals who are not members of the same party, unless all attendees present proof of full vaccination status. Fairs and festivals may require masks for all attendees, and per CDC guidance masks are required for unvaccinated attendees in certain settings, and indoors where vaccination status is unknown.

Cuomo also said the state’s industry-specific guidance must be followed for the applicable activities and attractions present at any fair or festival, such as amusement and family entertainment, food and beverage service, performing arts and entertainment. The applicable CDC guidance, such as “Guidance for Organizing Large Events and Gatherings,” should also be consulted, as appropriate.

In addition to capacity limits, social distancing and any mask requirements, county fairs and local festivals should consider the following as they plan for this year’s festivities:

¯ Attendee Contact Information – Fairs and festivals should encourage at least one attendee from each party to sign in during ticketing, or before or immediately upon entering the event space, providing their name, address and phone number for use in potential contact tracing efforts.

¯ Health Screening – Fairs and festivals must implement health screening for all individuals including questions on any COVID-19 symptoms, close contacts, recent positive COVID-19 test result, and compliance with State’s travel advisory. Screening may be performed via signage, at ticket purchase, by e-mail/website, by telephone, or by electronic survey before individuals enter the event space.

¯ Hand Hygiene – Fairs and festivals must provide hand washing stations or hand sanitizing supplies for common areas and areas where hand washing facilities may not be available or practical.

¯ Cleaning and Disinfection – Fairs and festivals must regularly clean and disinfect, focusing on high-traffic areas, such as restrooms, and frequently touched surfaces, such as service counters and seats.

¯ Communication – Fairs and festivals must post signage informing attendees of health precautions (e.g., social distancing, masks, hand hygiene) and distance markers indicating six-foot spaces in areas where lines form or people congregate, unless all attendees are fully vaccinated.

¯ Applicable Guidance – Fairs and festivals should consult the state’s guidance for their specific activities and attractions, such as performing arts and entertainment, amusement and family entertainment, food and beverage service, retail and market service, agricultural activities and sports and recreation.

After Cuomo made the announcement, the Erie County Fair said it would return Aug. 11-22. More details are expected in the coming days.

The Cattaraugus County Fair previously said it was planning on holding its fair Aug. 1-6 and was waiting for further guidance from the state.

Two weeks ago the Chautauqua County Fair announced it was canceling this year due to lack of state guidance and the time needed to organize the annual event. Chautauqua County typically holds its fairs ahead of both Erie and Cattaraugus. Fair Board President Dave Wilson said previously that although he was disappointed they had to cancel, he hoped their actions would force the state to address county fairs, and help Cattaraugus, Erie and others hold their summer events.