Youngsville parade will promote ‘far more than Christmas spirit,’ health department warns
Franklin County health officials strongly urged Youngsville to cancel its Saturday parade, warning that as COVID-19 cases skyrocket it will “promote far more than Christmas spirit.”
The town of 1,300 people plans to host an estimated 300 people for a mile-long holiday parade with dozens of floats, insisting that it has the First Amendment right to gather publicly and that the event counts as a church-related exemption to Gov. Roy Cooper’s COVID-19 restrictions.
In a statement Friday, Health Department Director Scott LaVigne said the county has “exhausted all the measures we have in our tool box” after repeatedly stressing the health risks.
County residents are getting tested in record numbers, he said, and the rate of positive results for the virus stands at 8.5% over the last two weeks, rising above 10% on several days.
In the last month, he said, the county has seen 542 cases. It took the county the first four months of the pandemic to reach that amount, according to a news release.
The parade, he wrote, will “promote far more than Christmas spirit.”
“It is our fervent hope that no one contracts the virus as a result or indirect result of this parade,” LaVigne said. “But as my son the mathematician frequently tells me: Math.”
The Town of Youngsville reiterated Thursday night that it will hold its Christmas Parade Saturday as scheduled, despite public health warnings and despite Cooper’s executive order.
Mayor Fonzie Flowers spoke to the town of about 1,800 people in a video to issue safety guidelines “in light of recent media attention” about the mil- long parade that’s expected to attract several hundred people.
“The town is confident our community can work together and observe public health best practices to have a safe Christmas parade,” Flowers said.
Under Cooper’s Phase 3 executive order, which is in effect until at least Dec. 11, outdoor gatherings are restricted to a maximum of 50 people. The order specifically prohibits mass gatherings such as parades, fairs and festivals.
But Town Manager Phil Cordeiro emailed county officials Wednesday that the parade falls under the same First Amendment exemption that allowed Raleigh protests earlier this year. He also describes the parade as a permitted religious service because it starts in the parking lot of First Baptist Church and many of its participants attend church.
In the mayor’s video, Flowers said people should remain six feet apart and wear masks. They should physically distance from groups, or a “family bubble” — those who live together in the same household.
He told residents if they are sick, at risk of getting sick or are exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms, they should stay home.
Those who don’t wear masks should keep “extra distance” from other people.
Town officials previously said 23 people “under the direction of the Youngsville Police Department” would monitor mask compliance.
Flowers said having an event outside is safer than having crowds of people inside a large building, such as a big box store or grocery store.
“Our parade is the exact opposite: outdoors, physically distanced and masks,” he said. “To put it simply, if our state’s health guidelines allow over 2,000 people to be in a 4-acre Walmart at the same time, we believe it’s safe to have a fraction of that number along our outdoor parade route.”
During a press briefing Thursday, Dr. Mandy Cohen, secretary of the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, called the record numbers of new cases across the state “alarming” and a “devastating milestone.”
The state reported 5,637 new cases in a day on Thursday, breaking previous records for reported COVID-19 cases, The N&O reported. It reported 5,303 additional new cases on Friday.
Flowers, in his video message, said he “understands and respects the difference of opinion” from other government agencies. He said he also respects those who have concerns about attending and that people should make the best decisions for their family about attending.
“But the people of Youngsville elected the town board to make decisions in the best interest of the town — in this case, and all others,” he said. “That’s what we plan to do.”
This story was originally published December 3, 2020 at 9:55 PM.
CORRECTION: A previous version of this story listed an incorrect number of coronavirus cases in Franklin County in November, based on information provided by the county health department.