Boise mayor asks organizers to postpone events with more than 250 people
Boise Mayor Lauren McLean is asking organizers to “consider postponing” any events with 250 people or more because of concerns of a coronavirus outbreak, she announced Thursday.
She announced measures for city employees as well, all out of “an abundance of caution,” she said in a news release. There were no confirmed cases of the virus in Idaho as of Thursday morning, according to state health officials.
“It is important for our community to come together to protect our most vulnerable populations,” she said in the release. “While various residents may not be sick or experiencing symptoms, there is the chance for them to carry the virus to those most at risk.”
The request is not an order, meaning events with more than 250 people are not required to be canceled.
It follows recommendations announced Thursday from the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the seven public health districts. State experts are recommending organizers cancel or postpone mass gatherings and public events that:
- draw participants from places with a confirmed community spread of the virus.
- will be held indoors and bring together more than 250 people who won’t be able to be six feet apart.
- have a primary audience that include high-risk populations including adults over 60 and people with underlying chronic medical conditions.
The city will be postponing employee gatherings of more than 250 people through April 10. It is also suspending all out-of-state business travel for employees through then. Departments are being asked to reimburse employees the prepaid costs associated with that travel.
McLean is also asking employees to “re-evaluate their personal travel plans.”
“We’re learning that with a virus like this, and the pandemic we now face, that slowing the rate of spread is important,” she wrote. “It provides health professionals and governments time to prepare, will spread out the impact on hospitals, and provide more time for a vaccination to be developed, protecting those at most risk in our communities.”
Karen Boe, a spokeswoman for McLean, said that the city has not limited public meetings such as Boise City Council meetings, but that officials are considering options.
Several large events announced cancellations in Boise this week, including the Treefort Music Fest and the Big Sky basketball tournaments.
This story was originally published March 12, 2020 at 5:21 PM.
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