No Masks in Warrenton

To the Editor:

I am a big supporter of the antique shows and I have to say I’m thrilled that all of the vendors that I know personally are doing great this year. I’m thrilled that we are having the show, I certainly recognize how important it is to our dealers and our economy. However, the lack of masks in the huge crowds in Warrenton is horrifying. It will more than likely turn out to be a superspreader event, which is not the reason we want to be in the news. I stopped a sheriff’s officer in traffic and he said he was horrified about it too but there was no way to make people wear masks, even though I found out later that there is a mask mandate in Fayette County. The mask mandate requires people to wear a mask when six feet of distance is not possible (but exemptions include while eating and drinking, and while with others of the same household.) The officer did not know that. There was no social distancing either, the throngs were shoulder to shoulder on the days that I’ve driven through.

The interior venues such as The Compound and Marburger Farm have a mask requirement and I think 100% of the shoppers and vendors are adhering to the rule.

I would have thought that the examples such as Sturgis and others all over the United States would have set an example that we don’t want to emulate. If we were going to do it, I don’t know why we didn’t do it safely. I’m very disappointed in our local leaders and judges for not protecting the health of our locals, dealers, and shoppers that flock here from all over.

Kai Jai Conner

Oldenburg