While a legitimate debate continues to rage (in some media, at least) about the lethality / potency of the coronavirus pandemic, a New Year’s Eve event scheduled in the heart of downtown Greenville, South Carolina is attracting criticism.
Some say it is setting up as a defining “overspread” event …
The second annual “Reedy River Grand Ball”- scheduled to start at 8:30 pm EST on Thursday, December 31, 2020 – is expected to attract hundreds of people to its optional black-tie revelry, which will include a dozen bars, as well as“ trapeze artists serving champagne ”.
Wait … what is a “trapeze artist to serve champagne?”
This one …
(Click to view)
(Via: Pinterest)
“After a year like 2020, we are making this event even more special,” noted the organizers on their Facebook page. “You are guaranteed to start 2021 with a bang!”
Or … with Covid-19.
Christen Clinkscales – a local restaurant merchant – launched a social media crusade on her Instagram page in order to end this event. Or, at least, to call attention to what it believes to be a legitimate threat to public health, given the growing cases of Covid-19.
“It is despicable, irresponsible and absolutely dangerous to host this event,” wrote Clinkscales. “It is a slap in the face for our health professionals and all essential employees. The lack of empathy for those who do not have the luxury of staying home during this pandemic is appalling. “
Clinkscales is concerned that Greenville County – at the center of the recent increase in Covid-19 cases – is facing an impending health crisis.
“Greenville County has the highest number of cases in our state at the moment and we haven’t even reached the peak of Christmas,” she added.
According to Clinkscales, the event organizers not only rejected their criticism, but “decided to delete any comments that questioned the security of the event”.
In fact, they claim to have worked with the governor’s administration Henry McMaster over the “last (two) months” to ensure that the meeting can be held safely.
“Weekly, they continue to express to us that we can operate until 1:00 am on New Year’s Eve,” wrote the organizers in a Facebook response to Clinkscales’ criticism.
McMaster, incidentally, announced last week that he had tested positive for Covid-19.
The meeting – announced as “Greenville’s largest and most sophisticated New Year’s event” – is scheduled to be held in Westfield Greenville, a prominent wedding venue. It is being sponsored by Palmetto Entertainment with local restaurant owner Rick Erwin catering supply.
Yes, This one Rick Erwin.
“The most elegant New Year’s gala is going to downtown Greenville for the second annual Reedy River Grand Ball,” noted the event’s organizers. “Enjoy the best all-inclusive spirits, beer, wine and food served by Rick Erwin’s. Dress to impress for this optional black tie event, suitable for a production and dance floor like you’ve never seen before! “
So far, 110 people have confirmed that they will attend the event online. However, our sources tell us that up to 700 people are likely to attend.
Our vision?
For those of you new to this medium, we have taken a decidedly rational, data-driven, non-alarmist view for Covid-19 – consistently pointing out that the virus does not appear to pose a significant threat to younger, healthier Americans. Likewise, we challenge the state to collect and publish cycle limit data that provides some sense of the severity / contagiousness of Covid-19 infections – allowing the government to better target contact tracking resources (while allowing carriers asymptomatic and non-contagious virus to return to work).
Result? There is a lot of opacity around this virus, and we believe that much of it is unnecessary … perhaps deliberately.
That said, there has clearly been an alarming increase in hospitalizations associated with Covid-19 in recent weeks – especially in the northern region of the state of South Carolina.
What gives credit to the critics of this meeting …
Does this mean that we believe that the government should have the right to close it? Do not. Absolutely not. But that means that the event’s hosts – and those planning to attend it – are likely to reconsider their decisions in the light of persistent uncertainty.
No one can (or should) try to compel them to do so … but that seems to us precisely the kind of big internal meeting that should be avoided in the foreseeable future due to excessive caution.
From the beginning, our goal in covering Covid-19 was to publish the best available data (and our best assessment of that data) in the hope of providing context for the risk – particularly the risk associated with further economic downtime.
This event seems to us to be an unnecessary risk … but, again, we do not believe that the government has the right to intervene and close it.
What do you think? Vote in our poll and post your opinion in our always fun comment section below …
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-FITSNews
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