When holding an event, be sure to take additional precautions for infection prevention. The following are principles recommended by the CDC for reducing the transmission of the COVID-19 virus and promoting a healthy environment for your event.
- Try to find ways to give people more physical space.
- Overset spaces to allow for Social Distancing (6 ft).
- Expand room holds; move to larger rooms to allow for more physical space.
- Consider setting less people per table to allow for more space.
- Limit Shared Usage items:
- Change Food selections to limit contact: Employ additional buffet line servers to serve food to attendees (rather than self-selection), consider moving menu to a plated meal, offer self-contained or packaged items at breaks
- Materials Distribution: Pre-set or package materials to avoid handing out materials to each attendee, consider posting materials online or change format of materials
- Registration: Hand materials to the attendees rather than self-registration by kiosk/computer, send messaging out to attendees in advance, set flexible registration cancellation policies
- Modify Event Format
- Make remote participation available when possible
- Review all formats of face-to-face interaction and adopt alternate options; change greetings to a catch phrase or signature move rather than a handshake
- Implement Good Hygiene Practices
- Ask attendees to practice good hygiene: stay home if you feel sick, cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and immediately dispose of the tissue, wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds (use hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available), avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Make hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies available
- Disinfect high touch surfaces more frequently
Sources:
Public Health for Mass Gatherings, Key Considerations, WHO
(CDC) Guidance for Mass Gatherings or Large Community Events during COVID-19:
To download a copy of these guidelines, please click HERE.