Have you run your plans by your local public health department and gotten their "buy in"?

Is there a NEED to--legally imposed, perceived, or otherwise?

What sets off a large percentage of the American public is that supposed need--mandated or perceived--to "ask permission" from "the government" for increasingly every facet of life--such as repairing your own house (did you get permits? use a licensed contractor?) or starting a business.

Because we live in a society.

We are trying to decide if we are going to do any Christmas trains. I just wonder what you are thinking about on a couple of issues in light of Covid. Like having children sit on Santa's lap and the fact that most coaches don't actually have a ventilation system to bring in outside air and heat it. So people are really going to notice that they are packed in an enclosed area with stagnant air. Another question, will children mind not being able to sit on Santa's lap. Singing is another issue in an enclosed area. Daytime trains would rule out any kind of lighted displays along the track or lights inside the cars.

@Mt. Royal.

"Over 70% of the population is vaccinated. There are individuals with antibodies somewhere in that remaining 30%. Successful methods of treatment are also available. There is also a TSA/FRA mask mandate in effect. With all of that considered, I see no reason not to offer Christmas trains."

I disagree. The third treatment (this is the third treatment, not the boosters) hasn't been distributed yet.

It is important that we maintain a great national consciousness that has served us so well in this unprecedented medical emergency and maintain strict adherence to the prescribed public rituals that show our unquestioned obedience to the great national and world leaders such as President Biden, Dr. Fauci, Mr. Gates and others who have provided such magnificent leadership on this issue.

Until we eradicate COVID and all its variants, we cannot be engaged in such frivolous nonsense as "Christmas trains". It's for the greater good that we suspend our normal ferro-equinological parochialisms. Is that too much to ask in a pandemic?

Do you really want some infected kid leaving some nasal mucous on the window or seat only to have another kid touch it, become infected when he or she ingests it along with the Cheezits mom brought for a snack and then go over to his septuagenarian grandmother? Is that what we want to risk?

Wait until Dr. Fauci or Dr. Walensky says it is safe, then proceed. You don't have impressive medical credentials or a public office, so you shouldn't be suggesting that people make decisions without the explicit consent of those who do possess such expertise or authority.