Name: People still flocking to Leavenworth, Washington, for holiday cheer despite the pandemic
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People still flocking to Leavenworth, Washington, for holiday cheer despite the pandemic

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In The NewsYour browser does not support the audio element.Leavenworth Mayor Carl Florea said that this year, the “capital of Christmas” isn’t doing any of the usual characters, festivals, open fire pits or even the .THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:“The only thing left that basically said we’re a Christmas town is that the trees in our park are still lit up with lights,” he said.Even so, thousands are flocking to the Bavarian-themed town in Central Washington. He said nearly 70% of Leavenworth merchants’ income comes in these few holiday weeks.Crowds of visitors are key to Leavenworth’s economic survival.And said attendance has been about the same as a normal year — about 10,000 people each weekend night.The is deploying the same number of deputies as usual — but leaving it up to officers whether to wear masks.Dr. Malcolm Butler, health officer for , said visitors are less likely to bring COVID-19 to Leavenworth than get it there.“We have an enormous burden of COVID-19 right now,” Butler said. “This is kind of a dangerous place to visit.”Eight-year-old Marisol Garcia's family recently went to see Leavenworth’s famous lights.“I really liked the lights. They sparkled like diamonds in the evening sky,” Garcia said.Her family tried to stay clear of most of the crowds. But infectious disease experts say even outside, large gatherings are risky.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:"The likelihood that one or two or three people or many more people in that crowd — the likelihood that they have COVID, just increases," said . "And the chance of transmission to people nearby increases as well."The viral expert said COVID-19 spreads by tiny airborne aerosols.“And the aerosols because they are small and light, can remain suspended in the air for a longer period of time compared to the heavier droplets which will fall to the ground,” Mani said.Some Leavenworth business owners have taken big COVID-19 precautions.Brad Schmidt owns the . He's closed off all the hotel rooms and is renting just two cabins now — a third of his normal income. Some guests are surprised, he said.“They said ‘let me understand you correctly: You’re situated on 20 acres?’ Yes. ‘That’s five acres per guest.’ ‘I said yes, that’s correct. And that’s the way we’re gonna operate,’” Schmidt said.In Wenatchee, Chelan County’s largest city, a recently organized a concert called .The was intended to draw 500 people. But it rained on the planned night, Dec. 19, and it appears only a few dozen turned out.The night before, the played a private indoor party in Wenatchee.The two events so incensed Zoe Hedges that she confronted the organizers in the streets of downtown Wenatchee.Hedges was especially angry because her day job includes helping flip COVID-19 patients into a prone position.“[Patients’] skin is beat up from being on their faces for 16 hours,” Hedges said. “They have tubes and wires and lines everywhere.”The regional hospital system in Wenatchee, , serves Leavenworth and Wenatchee, and it’s “near capacity,” according to a Confluence spokesperson. Health officer Dr. Malcolm Butler said Douglas and Chelan counties in north-Central Washington are a “hot spot.”“We’d love to see you after you have a vaccine next summer,” Butler said.THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:Sign up to get important news and culture from around the Northwest, delivered to your inbox six days a week.COVID-19 rates in Oregon are at the highest they’ve ever been. OPB Health Reporter Amelia Templeton has been covering the pandemic since March, and recently spoke with health professionals about the increasing spread of COVID-19 in Oregon as the holidays grow closer. We get details from Templeton, as well as a doctor and epidemiologist, on the higher risks around gathering right now and advice to celebrate the holidays safely.Our resident holiday music expert offers up his lovingly curated annual list of new seasonal songs2020 has been a stressful year. The election, wildfires, a pandemic, and now — the holidays.Tags:&nbsp;, , , Streaming NowMorning EditionOPB NewsKMHD

In The NewsYour browser does not support the audio element.Leavenworth Mayor Carl Florea said that this year, the “capital of Christmas” isn’t doing any of the usual characters, festivals, open fire pits or even the .THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:“The only thing left that basically said we’re a Christmas town is that the trees in our park are still lit up with lights,” he said.Even so, thousands are flocking to the Bavarian-themed town in Central Washington. He said nearly 70% of Leavenworth merchants’ income comes in these few holiday weeks.Crowds of visitors are key to Leavenworth’s economic...

People still flocking to Leavenworth, Washington, for holiday cheer despite the pandemic

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