Were you at the Elks steak dinner night last Friday?

I received this tip late Friday afternoon.

"Just an FYI for our community that is trying to still remain safe from Covid. 200 plus people will be at the Elks lodge tonight. How is that different that the "superspreader" event hosted at a local church. Total disregard for people's safety. It is their steak night tonight and it will be packed with 200 unmasked people. Needs to be shut down before someone gets sick."

I needed to verify  and get some additional information before contacting Public Health and the Elks. I asked the tipster, "How do you know 200 people are attending and will be unmasked?" 

I did not hear back from that tipster until a few minutes ago this morning. 

To protect the tipsters identity, I am not printing the exact wording in the follow up response.

What was shared with me was that last Friday was dinner night. Several members who are friends with this person said the dinner was sold out at 200 and that is the number of the people who had signed up. According to the tipster, "They do not enforce masks or temperature taking."

The Elks Lodge does have an option for dinner reservations on Wednesday and Friday. They do steak dinners. 

I have followed up with Public Health. DHHS' Heather Muller responded. "Thanks for reaching out, John. Since that address is in the unincorporated area, we’ll forward your information to the Humboldt County Code Enforcement Unit at 707-476-2429."

I contacted the Elks and left a message with the clerk, Amy. I did hear back from Elk's Treasurer, Ernie Nunes who left me a voicemail which said we "need to talk." I will call back when I can today and offered him the option to text or email me. 

I got another voicemail from the Elks Secretary Brad Smith.

I am extremely busy today. I sent this second text message to Nunes. Both my texts have been ignored. In a situation like this, written responses are better. 

At 3:35 p.m. Nunes sent me the following text.

"We take everyone's temperature when they enter the building, masks are required except at the table when seated.  Approximately 150 attended capacity for our dining room  is 320, not including the rest of the building. Social distancing  is mandatory.  People who were unmasked were not allowed in the building. Feel  free to call me ."

I called Nunes back. 

Nunes recognizes there is community concern about COVID 19 and large groups and that includes individuals who are members.

"Because of our demographic, a large number of our members are vaccinated," said Nunes. "If there are individual members concerned about this or any other event; they should contact the officers."

Elks are not allowing guests and for the past year, it has been members only at events. Membership cards have to be shown at the door. There is a person stationed at the door. Temperatures are taken as people enter the building. No one is allowed to enter without a mask.

Nunes said there may have been instances that people got up from the table and were not wearing a mask and that officers reminded them.

"Most places abide by the rules; " said Nunes. "Humboldt is tighter than most areas."

If you were at the event, feel free to contact me to corroborate or provide different information if you know protocols were followed. 

Since this post, I did receive more feedback, including from residents and neighbors.

"Hi. Per your story on the Elks lodge super-spreader event I can confirm that it was heavily attended. Both upper and lower parking lots as well as the RV parking were full. I thought it odd that such a large gathering was allowed. As far as mask wearers I did see a flyer for it asking folks to mask up and I did see folks entering wearing them, but not everyone."

This person was very specific where they lived in relation to the Elk's Lodge and I am not including that to protect their privacy.  This is someone I know well and for years. 

As I explained to Nunes, people are more candid privately than they are in groups due to peer pressure. COVID 19 has affected people and industries disproportionately. Another closure or restrictive tier for people and local businesses already devastated is not an option.