FAYETTE CO. JUDGE DECLARES LOCAL DISASTER, ORDERS CANCELLATION OF SPRING ANTIQUE SHOWS

  

Fayette County has issued a local disaster declaration in response to growing concerns revolving around the novel Coronavirus.

Fayette County Judge Joe Weber issued the declaration this (Friday) afternoon, while also ordering the cancellation of the spring antique shows in Round Top and Warrenton.

Weber told KWHI that, while there are not any cases of COVID-19 in the county, he is concerned about potentially overloading local medical facilities with large numbers of people.  He mentioned the county’s large population of senior citizens as a key factor in his decision.

When speaking about how the antique shows would be cancelled, as many of the venues offering antiques are full-time businesses, Weber explained that those businesses will not be shut down.  Rather, he said the county is ordering that any and all activities associated with the antique show be shut down.  He asks that any antique shoppers “understand the spirit” of what the county is trying to do in avoiding large crowds.

Weber added that many of the large vendors associated with the shows, such as the Original Round Top Antiques Fair, Blue Hills at Round Top, The Compound, and the Marburger Farm Antique Show, have announced they will close down.

While the antique shows are the only events Weber specifically ordered to be cancelled, he called for organizers for other events and gatherings around the county to strongly consider cancelling their events as well.

In his declaration, Weber also asked the public to avoid “panic buying” at local grocery stores and other merchants.