QWR STATEMENT ON COVID-19 - This Too Shall Pass

STATEMENT ON COVID-19

“This too shall pass”

The outdoor recreation community in California is all too familiar with having significant natural disaster events - such as the recent 2018 wildfire season - disrupt access to both casual trail use and permitted events.

Today, we are facing the coronavirus (COVID-19) that is another type of natural disaster which is not just restricted to forest lands in California but is impacting people and their activities – including powersports related events - on a worldwide basis.

The federal government has been directing the public to follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to follow mitigation measures and other guidance from state and local government agencies.

CDC GUIDANCE on COVID-19

https://www.cdc.gov/

QWR would like to support guidance from the AMA, Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals, and other recreation groups who have issued statements about working in a cooperative manner with government officials and our land agency partners when it comes to cancelling or postponing scheduled permitted events or conferences.

GUIDANCE FROM GOV. NEWSOM’S OFFICE

https://www.gov.ca.gov/2020/03/12/governor-newsom-issues-new-executive-order-further-enhancing-state-and-local-governments-ability-to-respond-to-covid-19-pandemic/

Also, some jurisdictions may decide to allow outdoor group events based on site-specific information.  However, local government agencies may have a lower number of people that may be gathered at an event.  Always check with your local health agencies.

COVID-19 has now become a political issue with an uncertain outcome at this point.  It is the hope of many that the virus will run its course in a short period of time so we all can get back to a normal life.   However, there is the possibility that things could get much worse before the situation gets better.  We just don’t know.

As OHV, MTB, MotoGP, Supercross, and other competition events continue to be cancelled or rescheduled it is important to know that both motorized and non-motorized recreationists can still get out and enjoy casual trail use with family and friends in small group settings.

We will get through this natural disaster as we have so many times before.  That is what we do!