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Should we cancel the fair?


By Ralph Dickerson

The coronavirus pandemic continues to rage in this country, with infections starting to edge back up in about half of the states. With the pandemic ongoing, should the Hancock County Fair Board cancel the fair?

While the coronavirus is in the state, and in the region, compared to other parts of the country the outbreak has been mild. Does the fear of becoming a hotspot like New York or New Jersey justify cancelling this time-honored event? Are we letting fear of what might happen rule our lives? President Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Do we really need to fear the coronavirus?

On the other hand, taking proper precautions such as social distancing, wearing masks and proper hand washing has helped to keep the coronavirus at bay in Kentucky. Since attending the fair means no social distancing and many people packed together in a tight space, is the risk of contracting the disease just too high? Could holding the fair cause a dramatic spike of cases in Hancock County, especially since the fair draws people to the county from all over the region? Where do we draw the line? What are the acceptable risks?

At what point do we live our lives without living in fear of the virus? We face risks every day, but we are just used to those risks and do not give them a thought. When we get behind the wheel of a car there is the risk of death or serious injury in an automobile accident. When we cross the street there is a risk of getting run over by a vehicle. When we eat a hamburger a chance exists of us getting choked on the food and dying. In each of the above-mentioned cases risk of death exists, but we are used to those risks and take them for granted.

We do not refuse to drive for fear of being in a wreck. We do not refuse to cross the street for fear of getting run over, nor do we not eat a hamburger for fear of choking. Are we letting the fear of the virus keep us from living because we fear we might contract the disease?

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