SCBA #RonaHike (Virtual Thanksgiving Day Hike)

SCBA #RonaHike (Virtual Thanksgiving Day Hike)
Thursday, November 26, 2020
SCBA Facebook Page

For approximately 100 years, the Sangamon County Bar Association has held the Thanksgiving Day Hike. Like all things in 2020, COVID-19 is requiring us all to assess how we operate. In preparing for the Hike, we have been presented with a number of problems that led the Board to unanimously agree to cancel this year’s Thanksgiving Day Hike.

Under current guidelines, to which the Park District and our insurance require us to adhere, we cannot have more than 25 people congregating at any one location. This includes outside events, like the Hike. The guidelines would requires us to send groups of 25 or less no sooner than 30 minutes apart. When people would complete their individual hikes, we would be required to force them to leave the park to avoid exceeding our limitations. We cannot have donuts or coffee available. We cannot effectively use the shelter, as we would be limited to very few for social distancing purposes. We cannot have fires outside the shelter.

At present, Illinois and Sangamon County are having a tsunami of COVID-19 cases. Statewide, we have exceeded 10,000 cases six of the last ten days. In Sangamon County, we have exceeded 200 cases per day five of the last ten days. Since Tuesday, Memorial Health System has reported both the number of COVID-19 patients and how many of those are in intensive care. COVID-19 patients at Memorial Medical Center has increased from 68 to 80 in the last three days. One in four patients systemwide are COVID-19 patients. The number of patients in intensive care systemwide has fluctuated from 19 to 26 to 21 in the last three days. Schools throughout the area are going to remote learning and restaurants are being shut down for indoor dining. The numbers are increasing. We must do our part to slow down and stop the spread.

Therefore, we are cancelling the Thanksgiving Day Hike and encourage everyone to take their own socially distanced and safe Hikes on Thanksgiving. There are dozens of parks throughout Sangamon County, weather permitting, you will be able to safely take your own Hike. If you take your own Hike, please post photos of you and your family (including pets) to our Facebook page using the hashtag #RonaHike. Please stay safe and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Bill Davis
President
Brown Hay & Stephens