Since the world has had to deal with a global pandemic, we now know the importance of social distancing, and most of us comply. However, stopping all social interaction can be impossible for some people. Isolation can also start to creep in and some might be wondering if it’s safe to have any kind of gatherings. The answer is that while we can never be totally safe, there are definitely things that can be done to make them safer. Let’s take a look at how to make social gatherings safer during a pandemic.
Reduce Hand to Plate Content
If you’re going to be serving food, make sure that you touch the plates and the utensils as little as possible. Make sure that the person serving the food uses sanitizer every 30 minutes. Also, make sure that they wear a hair net and gloves if possible. However, know that gloves have to be sanitized as well and thrown away after a certain period.
Try to opt for disposable plates, and sealed plastic utensils. Also, try to find utensil sets with wet wipes in them. This will allow people to disinfect their hands right after they eat.
Hold it Outside
Another thing you should do is consider holding the event outside. This will greatly reduce the chances of airborne infections. However, you still have to make sure that everything is there for people to keep their hands clean and that social distancing rules are in effect.
One thing you should do is consider having a wash station with sanitizer present. Try to get one with a double wash sink to allow multiple people to wash their hands. Additionally, you’ll want to keep tables separated and limit activities that would require people to touch or be in close contact, like a human wheelbarrow race for instance.
If you can’t hold the event outside for any reason, or the weather conditions are harsh, you have to make sure that there’s sufficient air flow inside. This means you’ll need to create air movement inside the house or venue and make sure the air can come in and out. Air replacement is essential for virus particles to be evacuated.
Bottles Over Drinks
When it comes to drinks, it would be better to have individual bottles or cans for everybody instead of a self-service bar. The next best thing would be to have a keg, but still, contact with the tap could be an issue. The worst thing, however, would be to have everyone serve themselves from the same bowl of punch.
Masks for Everyone
While it might be tough to stick to this one, you have to make sure that everyone wears their face mask the whole time. You can’t allow anyone to not follow these rules, even children. Lowering your guard could be all that it takes for a breakout to start. So, make sure that you always have masks on and remind the small ones that it’s essential that they protect other people’s lives.
These are just some of the ways that you can limit the chances of an outbreak during social events. Make sure to follow these to the letter, and do everything that you can to keep everybody safe.
