Wanenmacher’s Tulsa Arms Show, billed as the largest in the country, has been cancelled this weekend at Expo Square because of COVID-19 concerns.
There will be no Wanenmacher’s Tulsa Arms Show in Tulsa this weekend, meaning the city will have gone a full calendar year without hosting the event for the first time in more than six decades.
“Oklahoma’s COVID-19 cases have more than quadrupled from approximately 1,100 cases a day on Nov. 3 to 2,000 cases on Nov. 5 to over 4,500 cases Saturday Nov. 7,” a Monday update on the show’s website says.
Organizers reported that as a result of the case spike, the Tulsa Health Department “strongly recommends” 25% venue capacity and “100 percent enforced mask wearing.”
“It’s been very difficult to come to this decision. Like everyone else we’ve been watching the COVID numbers go up and up and up in Oklahoma,” Mark Wanenmacher, one of the event’s organizers, said in a phone interview. “It’s been a hard year for everyone.”
The show, which typically draws a crowd in excess of 35,000 people each November and April, was scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Expo Square in the Tulsa Fairgrounds near 21st Street and Yale Avenue. It bills itself as the “World’s Largest Gun Show.”
Owner Joe Wanenmacher also had to cancel the April 4-5 edition of the arms show due to concerns about COVID-19, which at the time had prompted cities, including Tulsa, to issue safer-at-home orders.
In the notice posted online Monday, the show said, “Taking into account the fairgrounds’ formula for square feet per attendee, our number of exhibitors and the square footage taken by all the tables, there is no room left for spectators.”
Mark Wanenmacher said the capacity limit would have even kept some of those with exhibits out of the facility, though staff was prepared to enforce the Health Department’s recommendation on mask usage. There were more than 3,000 tables on the list for the show this weekend, he said.
“We’ve never tried to cancel something the week before,” he said, especially an event the size of the Arms Show.
“We have people come from all over the country,” Wanenmacher said. “They (exhibitors) were packing up the trucks and getting ready to come to Tulsa.”
Reservations and money will be automatically applied to the next show, scheduled for April 10-11, 2021.
The event had the same ticketholder policy in place at the time of the April show cancellation, according to Tulsa World archives. Those who wish to get refunds can call the arms show directly.
“We know this is not the news you want to hear, nor is it the news we wanted to give you,” the Arms Show’s website states. “We sincerely intended and hoped we could have this show, but due to the new restrictions, it is not possible.”
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Featured gallery: COVID-19 basics
How it spreads, who's at risk
Studies have shown many infected people show no symptoms or have symptoms so mild they may go undetected; those people can still transmit COVID-19 to About 20% of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 require hospitalization.
The disease can be fatal, especially for vulnerable populations: those older than 65, living in a nursing home or long-term care facility, and anyone with underlying health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, lung disease or obesity.
Science of virus spread
COVID-19 is spread mainly from person to person via respiratory droplets produced by an infected person. Spread is most likely when people are in close contact, within about 6 feet. A person might also be infected with COVID-19 after touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their face. According to the CDC, evidence suggests the novel coronavirus may remain viable for hours to days on surfaces, though that form of transmission is said to be minor.
Transmission between people more than 6 feet from one another may occur in poorly ventilated and enclosed spaces, the CDC says, especially where activities cause heavier breathing, such as singing or exercising.
The infectious period for patients can begin up to 48 hours before symptom onset.
List of symptoms
The CDC recently expanded its list of possible symptoms of COVID-19. The symptoms can appear from two days to two weeks after exposure.
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms and will continue to be updated by the CDC. One symptom not included is "purple toes," which someone may experience with no other symptoms, sometimes several weeks after the acute phase of an infection is over. The coloration and pain is caused by a lack of blood flow to the toes caused by excessive blood clotting, a late-stage concern with COVID-19 infections.
Kinds of testing
Those getting tested may experience different kinds of swabs. The viral test, known as PCR, involves a deep nasal swab that can be painful.
Other tests that require less-invasive swabs may produce results faster, but with less accuracy. These should not be used diagnostically.
It is not yet known whether COVID-19 antibodies can protect someone being infected again or how long protection might last.
The 'serious seven'
The "serious seven" refer to close contact environments where residents should take extra precautions if they choose to attend. The seven are gyms, weddings, house gatherings, bars, funerals, faith-based activities and other small events, according to Tulsa Health Department Director Bruce Dart.
Treatments being investigated
The FDA has allowed for antiviral drug remdesivir, previously tested on humans with Ebola, to treat more severe cases of COVID-19 in adults and children. Safety and effectiveness aside, preliminary studies have shown it can shorten recovery time for some patients.
After previously approving an emergency use authorization, the FDA as of July 1 cautions against use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine for COVID-19 outside of the hospital setting or a clinical trial. A review of safety issues includes reports of serious heart rhythm problems and other safety issues, including blood and lymph system disorders, kidney injuries, and liver problems and failure.
Convalescent serum therapy
Some patients are receiving convalescent serum, meaning the antibodies made by people who have recovered after a COVID-19 infection. Antibody-rich blood plasma is being given to severely or critically ill COVID-19 patients, including Ascension St. John, Saint Francis Health System, OSU Center for Health Sciences and Hillcrest HealthCare System in Tulsa.
From June to July, requests for convalescent plasma from the Oklahoma Blood Institute multiplied seven-fold.
Recovery, as defined by CDC
To be considered recovered (without a test), these three things must happen, the CDC advises:
- No fever for at least 72 hours (three full days of normal temperature without the use of medicine)
- Other symptoms improved (no more cough, etc.)
- At least 10 days since symptoms first appeared
Samantha Vicent
Staff Writer
I cover topics including marijuana in Oklahoma, Tulsa County District Court proceedings, law enforcement use of force and the Oklahoma prison system, including the death penalty. Phone: 918-581-8321
