La Luz warns party crowd: event performer has tested Covid positive

Attendees of a weekend fundraiser for La Luz received an email alert early this morning warning that a performer at the outdoor dinner has tested positive for Covid. 

“We received word that a staff member of the company which produced our Noche event on Saturday, August 7, has tested positive,” confirmed Nick Mendelson, president of the La Luz board.

The catered event was attended by some 400 people in a grove off of Trinity Road in Glen Ellen. The sit-down dinner was preceded by a cocktail reception during which the performers, garbed in the event’s Hippie theme, wandered through the crowd.

“We were assured that all artists and crew at Gregangelo’s Velocity Arts and Entertainment were vaccinated before the event,” Mendelson stated. “One of those vaccinated staffers tested positive.”

The performers/actors were not masked. Servers and catering staff did wear masks.

 The email advised “those of you who were present at this outdoor event to take every precaution to prevent the spread of the virus. That includes being tested for COVID-19, quarantining if necessary, and notifying any family, friends, or workplaces.”

According to CDC guidelines, “…anyone who has had close contact with someone with COVID-19 and who meets the following criteria does NOT need to stay home:

• Someone who has been fully vaccinated and shows no symptoms of COVID-19. However, fully vaccinated people should get tested 3-5 days after their exposure, even they don’t have symptoms and wear a mask indoors in public for 14 days following exposure or until their test result is negative.”

Mendeldson said that many of the La Luz staff that attended the event will take tests August 12 at La Luz. “We want to make sure our team is healthy and able to serve our community by testing, practicing social distancing, and deep cleaning our facility.”

 Photo by William Murray