Health officer recommends entertainment facilities screen for Covid-19 exposure

For the vaccine and testing in the Lake Chelan Valleycontact Lake Chelan Health at 682-3300 or Columbia Valley Community Health 682-6000

EAST WENATCHEE - The Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 is in Chelan and Douglas counties, and is a game changer. It is more contagious and produces 1,000 times as much virus in the people it infects. That huge load of virus leads to many more viral particles being exhaled and aerosolized. People are infected more quickly and get sicker faster than in the past.
While vaccination against COVID-19 offers excellent protection against severe COVID, there is increasing evidence that fully vaccinated individuals infected with the Delta variant are contagious and spreading the disease unknowingly. For these reasons, in entertainment facilities, Chelan Douglas Health District now recommends:
• Movie theaters: Screen guests for COVID exposure or symptoms. Temperature screening is not recommended. If screening is impractical, at a minimum post signage asking guests who have a known COVID exposure, or any symptoms of COVID, to not enter the theater; Universal masking of staff and guests, regardless of vaccination status; Social distancing between groups in the audience
• Indoor live music / theater: Screen guests for COVID exposure or symptoms. Temperature screening is not recommended. If screening is impractical, at a minimum post signage asking guests who have a known COVID exposure, or any symptoms of COVID, to not enter the theater. Universal masking of staff and guests, regardless of vaccination status; Social distancing between groups in the audience; Test performers prior to each performance with a rapid antigen test; Performers in daily productions may be tested 2-3 times per week; Exclude any performers who test positive
• Outdoor live music / theater:  Screen guests for COVID exposure or symptoms. Temperature screening is not recommended. If screening is impractical, at a minimum post signage asking guests who have a known COVID exposure, or any symptoms of COVID, to not enter the venue. Social distancing between groups in audience; Universal masking in large crowds where social distancing cannot be maintained, regardless of vaccination status.