Mecktoberfest attendees ‘need to get tested’ for Covid-19, county officials say
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Olde Mecklenburg Brewery OMB
One of Charlotte’s largest fall festivals, Mecktoberfest at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, is under scrutiny after attendees tested positive for Covid-19. And now the county health director says anyone who attended should get tested.
Updates: On Wednesday afternoon Mecklenburg County announced a free testing event at OMB. The testing will take place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 10.
On Thursday afternoon the NC Craft Brewers Guild released a statement regarding overcrowding in breweries.
The statement said in part: “We do not condone behavior at breweries that does not comply with state guidance or our pledge to consumers to keep them safe. The NC Craft Beer Industry is committed to and expects all North Carolina Breweries to abide by protocols established by WHO, CDC and NCDHHS.”
Due to the pandemic, the brewery said masks would be required and it would limit capacity to allow for adequate social distancing throughout its annual Oktoberfest weekend, the Agenda reported. But, according to county health director Gibbie Harris, that didn’t happen.
Harris estimated thousands of people went to OMB for the event, which included live music in the 10.5-acre Biergarten and classic German dishes like Bavarian pretzels with bier cheese. OMB also served its popular Mecktoberfest Märzen Lager, along with all of its year-round brews.
Fox 46’s Matt Grant shared videos of Mecktoberfest on Twitter. This one shows about 100 people dancing to live music with no masks or social distancing in sight.
Mecklenburg County recommendation: Harris is now asking anyone who attended OMB’s Mecktoberfest from September 25 to 27 to get tested for Covid-19.
“We are wanting to get the message out to anyone who attended that event. There were thousands of people there. There were very few masks, very little social distancing if you’ve seen the videos. Those folks need to get tested,” Harris said during the October 6 county commissioners meeting.
The request comes after the county identified multiple positive Covid cases among event attendees. Harris said the number doesn’t yet constitute a cluster, which is defined as five or more cases connected to a single event or place.
Crowds at OMB: The Agenda messaged a few attendees on Instagram to ask about their experience. Makaylyn Alley, a Charlotte healthcare worker, said she left early on Saturday because of overcrowding and lack of masks.
Other attendees, such as Megan Witt, say OMB employees made an effort to ensure social distancing and mask wearing. Witt says she got to the festival around 11 a.m. on September 26 and left around 3 p.m., when the brewery started getting crowded. She says she plans to get tested as a precaution.
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OMB’s response: OMB, which was founded in 2009 and is the city’s oldest brewery, has not yet answered the Agenda’s questions about how many people went to Mecktoberfest or how Covid safety measures were enforced. The brewery did send a statement:
“OMB has always and will continue to work diligently to ensure that we comply with and adhere to all county, state, and national health regulations and recommendations. It is also perhaps the easiest place in town to enjoy a beer or a meal with friends while social distancing. If you are not sure, and would like to see what a safe and enjoyable place OMB is, we encourage you to visit and see for yourself.”
On a podcast in April, Olde Mecklenburg Brewery founder John Marrino joined Charlotte City Council member Tariq Bokhari in imploring local government officials to allow small businesses to reopen.
For instance, it’s possible for a place like OMB to space out tables 10 or 15 feet apart in its outdoor beer garden, Marrino said. On the podcast, he also questioned whether Covid-19 actually affects young people.
“The hysteria around this has gotten us a little too far removed from the perhaps the best way to handle it,” Marrino said. “Young people aren’t getting sick. People in their 20s, 30s, and 40s are not getting sick, by and large.”
Getting tested: Six months into the pandemic, Covid-19 tests are widely available. Drive-thru tests are offered at CVS and Walgreens. Mecklenburg County has all Charlotte-area testing sites mapped out here. Most testing options are free and available to those with or without health insurance.
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