So You Want to Host a Geocaching Event...

Part of the joy of geocaching is meeting with friends who also geocache.  In times of COVID that means risk.  A team at Georgia Tech as put together a tool to help people determine just how great that risk can be.  Since we primarily live in northeast Ohio and fifty people attend the event, the risk that one attendee will be COVID positive is...

67% in Cuyahoga County.

37% in Lake County

35% in Summit County

34% in Lorain County

31% in Medina County

25% in Portage County

25% in Stark County

23% in Geauga County

That's great!  Look at how much safer an event in Geauga County is than one in Cuyahoga County...  maybe.  Remember, geocaching events are open to everyone so an event in any county will most likely be blended with all those counties by the attendees.  It might even have an attendee from Huron County where the risk of a COVID-positive attendee would be 56%.  Maybe one of the attendees recently visited the Lake Erie Islands for some summer fun.  The risk in Ottawa County is 68%.

Now, just think if your event were being held in Kentucky...  and maybe 500 people were expected to attend.  The entire area around Daviees County shows a 99% risk that at least 1 attendee will be COVID-positive.

Actually, when the map zooms out a good portion of the eastern US shows a gathering of 500 people would virtually be assured of at least 1 attendee who is COVID-positive.

It makes one wonder how big an ego one must have to try pushing an event to a mega in the time of a pandemic...

I am saddened to see so little regard not just for the geocachers attending, but for their families who will be put at risk, the exhausted medical community that might be needed to find even more to offer to serve geocachers who might become sick.

This year's play appears to be a part of a ploy to get the next GeoWoodstock.

Geocaching at Kent State

If you are planning a visit to Kent State to geocache, you will need a mask for the visit.  The university now wisely requires facial coverings while on campus.  Be responsible!  Wear a mask!

Give Brain Plaza a visit while you are there.

COVID Caching in Canada

We had a great time when we visited BC and were thinking this year might be time for a return.  It's a pleasant drive north from Spokane when I finish business there.  COVID-19 has pretty much ended that option with a 14-day quarantine requirement when entering the country.  A Minnesota couple recently found out the hard way when they entered Canada and failed to follow quarantine instructions.  They were arrested and each fined $1000 Canadian.  They were lucky.  The maximum fine for not following quarantine rules when entering Canada is $750,000 Canadian per person.  We will wait for better times to hopefully return to BC.

Ohio Geocaching Events Continue to be Restricted Under State Orders

Governor DeWine citing increased positive tests for COVID-19 and R values greater than 1 for significant areas of the state announced the current ban on mass gatherings would continue indefinitely with no date of expiration on the state order.  The R-value indicates the average number of people who will be infected by a COVID-positive carrier.  At an R-value greater than 1 every positive person will on average infect more than one person with whom they are in exposed contact.

As of the 4th of July, Ohio's R value was 1.15 which ranked Ohio as the 18th worst state in the country for COVID spread.  As of the the 4th only 11 states had R values lower than 1 contributing to increased illnesses and greater near-capacity hospital usage.

(Source: rt.live)

As Geocachers we can help by wearing a mask to protect others, maintaining social distancing of at least six feet, not traveling to geocaches in the same vehicles as other cachers with whom we don't live, and reducing the number of group selfies that seem such an important part of finding a geocache.

(Source: rt.live)

Events in Ohio will continue to remain unpublished.

NE Ohio continues ot offer great places to cache socially distanced.  We visited Girdled Road recently to find a puzzle cache in a series.

Stay Safe.