CLARENCE, N.Y. — The Erie County Department of Health says they found two COVID-related violations following an inspection earlier this month at The Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence.
The Department of Health says they visited the farm on Saturday, October 3 and discovered the violations for the farm for too many people on the hayrides and no social distancing by people waiting in lines.
Kelly Schultz, owner of The Great Pumpkin Farm told 2 On Your Side “We didn’t know we were written up. When they told us about this we took care of what was supposedly an issue right away.”
The Erie County Department of Health says that under the NY Forward guidelines, fall activities, such as U-Pick farms, must be limited at 33 percent capacity on site and for activities like hayrides, six feet of distance is to be maintained between individuals or parties if not in the same household/group.
The Great Pumpkin Farm also released a statement to 2 On Your Side, which you can read below:
"The Erie County Health Dept was out and they talked to us about the hayrides and keeping at 33% capacity. Everything else was fine with what we are doing here and going by the guidelines that were given to us by the state, county and health dept. Everyone is required to wear masks at all times indoors and outdoors. We do have security and employees that are monitoring this and making sure they are wearing them. They can take them off only when they are seated and eating or drinking. As an outdoor event as long as people are wearing masks they don’t have to stay 6 feet apart. We have hand sanitizing stations everywhere and at all locations indoors and outdoors. Our indoor building is limited to 33% capacity and we have monitors at all the doors making sure we don’t go past the capacity."
