CDC Issues New Guidelines for Community Gatherings

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending gatherings be no larger than 50 people for at least 8 weeks Sunday night as way of reducing spread of the virus. 

“in accordance with its guidance for large events and mass gatherings, the CDC recommends that for the next 8 weeks, organizers (whether groups or individuals) cancel or postpone in-person events that consist of 50 people or more throughout the United States.”

The release also said events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing.  When feasible, organizers could modify events to be virtual.

The recommendation do not apply to the day to day operation of organizations such as schools, institutes of higher learning, or businesses. The recommendations are made in an attempt to reduce introduction of the virus into new communities and to slow the spread of infection in communities already affected by the virus.  This recommendation is not intended to supersede the advice of local public health officials.

Federal officials say that about 2000 testing sites will go into effect this week throughout the country. 

The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has impacted more than 162,000 people and left more than 6,000 dead, with thousands of new cases confirmed each day, according to CDC data.

The death toll in the United States climbed to 64, while infections passed 3,200 on Sunday.