Responsible RestartOhio County and Independent Fairs While COVID-19 has made it impossible to hold fairs in the way we have in the past, they are of such importance to communities that every effort should be made to preserve the Junior Fair competitions and exhibits, as well as the open class (open to adults) events and competitions. Mandatory Large Gatherings Livestock Competitions Grandstands • Fair boards and managers should conduct the fair in a manner that discourages the large gathering of people on the midway or on other parts of the fair grounds. Where possible, the fair should provide one-way traffic in buildings or other areas, where doing so will help people maintain social distancing. Livestock competitions can be held in the same manner as they have in the past with the following exceptions: • Participants, spectators, and judges shall, when possible, maintain a distance of six feet between each other. • Because judges need to examine the animal and thus will be close to the participants, it is recommended that judges wear masks at least during that part of the judging. • Family members of the participants shall have priority in the viewing area. • Each family should group together in the viewing area, and there should be six feet between families. • Microphones shall be sanitized after each person uses the microphone. The above guidance shall also be used during livestock auctions. The fair board should consider the use of a virtual auction, although this is not required. Priority seating at auctions shall be family members of participants and buyers. Grandstand events shall be conducted in the following manner. • The number of spectators shall be limited to one-half the seated capacity of the grandstand. • Notwithstanding this, no grandstand event shall have more than 2,500 seated spectators. • A distance of six feet should be maintained between seated spectators with the exception of family members who are encouraged to sit together. Non-Livestock Exhibitions • Non-livestock exhibitions and judging shall, where applicable, follow the same rules as those for animal exhibitions. Barns • The fair barns shall be open as much as possible to allow good ventilation. This shall be true for all other buildings, as well. Campgrounds Food • Campgrounds should follow standards outlined in the “Ohio COVID-19 Responsible RestartOhio” plan for camping and campgrounds. Family units should stay together as much as possible away from other family units. • Food concessions shall comply with the standard RestartOhio COVID-19 rules for restaurants. These include six-foot spacing marks for those in line, no self-serve areas, condiments placed on food by server or in self-contained packets, and if there is a seating area, the tables/benches must be six feet apart to assure distance between parties. Mandatory Sanitation • In addition to the regular restrooms, the fair shall provide sanitation stations at convenient places throughout the fairgrounds. These stations shall include sanitizer. These must be placed near food concessions and in barns. These must be maintained so that hand sanitizer is always available. Physical Contact • All fair goers, participants, and judges should avoid physical contact with others and should refrain from shaking hands, giving “high 5’s,” etc. Harness Racing • The fair must follow guidelines established by the Ohio Racing Commission called “Protocols for a Safe Return to Racing.” Good Hygiene • Amusement Rides • If the fair wishes to have amusement rides, it should comply with all orders of the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Fair board members, staff, volunteers, exhibitors, vendors, and participants must all follow good hygiene that is informed by the corona virus danger: wash hands frequently, use hand sanitizer, cough into sleeve. Attempt to avoid gathering in groups and attempt to maintain social distancing. Individuals should perform a daily health assessment and stay home if they have a fever, cough, or other signs of possible COVID-19. Revised 6/09