GPH: Chester Parade ‘Clear Risk to the Public’
While some activities are now allowed under state COVID-19 guidelines, Geauga Public Health Commissioner Tom Quade wants the public to know that does not mean it is wise to do them.
While some activities are now allowed under state COVID-19 guidelines, Geauga Public Health Commissioner Tom Quade wants the public to know that does not mean it is wise to do them.
In a recent interview, Quade singled out the July 4 march in Chester Township as one of those events. Although a resolution to the situation was reached June 30 with Chester Township Trustee Skip Claypool, Quade clarified his position a traditional parade would not be safe for the public in a June 29 email to Claypool.
“You do not have my support for this parade as I believe it remains as a prohibited event per the orders from the Ohio Department of Health,” Quade said, adding as the event is no longer classified as a parade, it falls within the broad umbrella of the First Amendment.
“I will offer the thought that the First Amendment does not allow one to shout fire in a crowded theater because such action would present a clear risk to the public. What you have planned falls very close to that sort of irresponsible behavior and that reality should give us all pause,” Quade said.
He said the event poses a risk not only to those who attend, but also to those with whom they come into contact afterward.
In the email, he asked Claypool and other organizers to reconsider the event and instead offer something that does not potentially extend this public health crisis.
The parade has been re-branded as a march in what appears to be an attempt to circumvent state public policy put in place to protect the health and safety of Geauga County residents, Quade said.
When reached by phone June 29, Quade reiterated his concern for those who choose not to attend, but are exposed to those who do.
“(Attendees are) not going home for two weeks to self-isolate, they’re going to go out and will mingle with the folks who chose not to attend, that’s who we’re concerned about,” Quade said. “Those lives matter, too.”
GPH is not prohibiting public activities and cannot approve events prohibited by the state, nor prohibit an event the state says is allowed, he said.
Public health officials around the state have been sued for enforcing COVID-related prohibitions, which Quade said is not in Geauga County’s best interests, as it would divert financial resources from the job at hand.
“Having said that, I’ll work with people (on events) that I believe are threats to public health to try and reduce the threat,” Quade said. “But I will just as vehemently tell the public it’s a bad idea (to attend).”
Large public gatherings present the greatest risk of undoing the good accomplished by the tremendous sacrifices members of the public have made to keep each other safe and the numbers relatively low, Quade said.
Planners of public events should not be quick to squander the rewards of the public’s sacrifice, he added.
Quade condemned what he called a lack of leadership from those whose first inclination is to act on what they want, as opposed to what’s good for the public.
“That’s not leadership, plain and simple,” he said. “It’s not. Leadership is making the decisions that are wildly unpopular, because you’re in a position to lead by example and provide guidance.”
Claypool said a June 30 discussion with Quade led to a positive outcome. In an email, Quade told Claypool efforts he made to assure participants are in vehicles rather than walking in groups will help considerably.
Quade also thanked Claypool for promoting social distancing and the wearing of masks at the celebration in the park.
amy
