The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce board of directors announced on Aug. 13 that the 2021 Lafayette Art & Wine Festival is canceled.
In an email to the greater community, Chamber Executive Director Jay Lifson explained how the recent surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant made keeping the promise of high safety standards at the event impossible.
"Because vaccinated people can not only get the virus but can shed it as well, it is difficult to see how we could keep people safe," he wrote.
Because the event is held in the middle of downtown Lafayette, and cannot be fenced in, there was no way to enforce stricter protocols. "We considered making this a masked event for everyone.? Hard to enjoy eating, drinking, socializing and dancing with a mask on," he said, noting that they additionally could not figure out a way to enforce the masking rule. "Our staff, volunteers, police, CERT, security can not monitor every person who chooses to simply not comply with the rules.? It is confrontational, dangerous and does nothing to create the wonderful vibe we have been able to enjoy."
In an email to the greater community, Chamber Executive Director Jay Lifson explained how the recent surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant made keeping the promise of high safety standards at the event impossible.
"Because vaccinated people can not only get the virus but can shed it as well, it is difficult to see how we could keep people safe," he wrote.
Because the event is held in the middle of downtown Lafayette, and cannot be fenced in, there was no way to enforce stricter protocols. "We considered making this a masked event for everyone.? Hard to enjoy eating, drinking, socializing and dancing with a mask on," he said, noting that they additionally could not figure out a way to enforce the masking rule. "Our staff, volunteers, police, CERT, security can not monitor every person who chooses to simply not comply with the rules.? It is confrontational, dangerous and does nothing to create the wonderful vibe we have been able to enjoy."
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA