BOISE, Idaho — The coronavirus is leading to multiple cancellations of upcoming conferences and concerts around the United States, including well-known festival SXSW, but the organizers of Treefort Music Fest say it will go on as planned.
Organizers say they are closely monitoring the coronavirus and preparing Treefort with safety as their top priority. They are currently coordinating directly with Idaho Central District Health, the Office of Emergency Management at the City of Boise and other city officials.
Restaurants, bars, venues, schools, theaters, arenas and other businesses people visit throughout Boise are still going to be open during the days Treefort is taking place.
While the individual risk of contracting coronavirus is low at this time, Treefort is enhancing precautions at the festival to support all attendees to keep them healthy. Idaho officials have not requested the cancellation or postponement of any gatherings including Treefort.
Some of the precautions Treefort is taking during the festival include:
- Increased hand washing and sanitizing stations throughout the festival
- Staff and volunteers that are sick or feeling sick will not be allowed at the festival
- Sanitizing all mics in between sets, panels and talks
- All those speaking on panels will have their own microphone
- Central District Health inspects all festival venues to ensure all food, beverage and sanitary stations are up to standard
- Medical tent will examine attendees that are showing respiratory symptoms or not feeling well and may ask individuals to leave the festival
- Medical tent will have masks on site for individuals showing respiratory symptoms
- Trash collection will be increased
Treefort encourages attendees to partake in the following practices:
- Wash your hands for 20 seconds
- Use alcohol based hand sanitizer
- When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – discard tissue immediately into a closed bin
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
- Stay home or in your hotel if you have a fever to help maintain the health of all event participants
- Replace hugs and high fives with booty bumps, elbow taps or air fives
You can find more information on Treefort's Coronavirus Attendee Information page. They will be updating the page with more information and encourage attendees to check back regularly.
