Make sure your summer event isn’t a COVID-19 superspreader
Q: With the CDC’s recent mask announcement and some areas reopening, how can you avoid throwing a COVID19 superspreader event?
A: Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by local governments or businesses.
The best recommendation and the most important aspect to remember is that the collective health of a country is everyone’s responsibility. The recommendations by the CDC are a clear statement: The removal of mask restrictions applies only to those who are fully vaccinated.
A healthy recommendation for those planning larger events, such as weddings and graduation parties, is to clearly inform guests of health precautions you will have in effect. For those who do not feel comfortable relying on the honesty of the public, err on the side of caution and wear a mask.
— Dr. Christopher Colbert, assistant emergency medicine residency director and professor of clinical emergency medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago
A: In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to implement protocols to avoid throwing a superspreader event. With the news of the mask regulations being lifted for those who are vaccinated, it remains vital to strategically implement rules for guests to abide by to keep everyone safe.
Here are a few ideas to ensure that guests are able to celebrate in a safe and stress-free way:
1. Mask wearing
2. Hand washing and hand sanitizer stations:
3. Electrostatic sanitization of the venue and furniture
4. Requiring that all food be served by waitstaff
5. Tables and chairs set up to maintain a distance of 6 feet
6. Requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test
— Courtney Ajinça, event planner