According to the World Health Organization, "coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases". The most recent form of coronavirus(COV) that has broken out all across the world is a novel strain of the virus identified as COVID-19.
Like all coronaviruses, this strain can also travel between animals and humans. According to experts, it emerged in Wuhan, China, from the Huanan Market, a live animal and seafood market in the District. The COVID-19 is said to have come from a bat, then to a pangolin, and finally to human beings.
As of today, this strain of the coronavirus has already spread to over 100 countries worldwide. While research into the virus continues, people all over the world are in a state of panic. Many events have been canceled, citing the outbreak of the virus as the sole reason.
This article aims to provide accurate information to people for whom canceling social, and public events may perhaps not be possible due to a variety of reasons. Since the outbreak, numerous researchers have compiled safety protocols that can protect and safeguard people from this disease.
So, if you are planning a social gathering or are an event planner, here are a few methods that can help you and your attendees significantly reduce the chances of contracting COVID-19.
Hand Sanitizers – Do They Work?
A lot has been speculated about the usefulness of hand sanitizers. Some say that they are not an effective way to reduce germs from hands, while others suggest that those with alcohol in them are particularly useful.
Hence, can using hand sanitizers be useful at an event? In what ways? What ingredients must you watch out for in a hand sanitizer for it to be the most effective? These are the next set of questions you should be asking yourself, which we too will be answering.
Experts suggest that hand sanitizers cannot be used in all types of situations to remove germs from hands. Bad use of hand sanitizer will be when the hands are quite greasy or have strong chemicals on them. In these circumstances, the only viable solution is to wash hands with soap and water.
However, hand sanitizers can be useful at an event, depending on what types of activities have been planned for the attendees. For example, if attendees will not be served an assortment of foods or asked to interact with wildlife or each other in a physical capacity, hand sanitizers can be useful.
The best hand sanitizers are the ones that have at least 60% alcohol in them for reducing microbes and germs from hands. For the best results, it is suggested that the hands be scrubbed until completely dry.
So, the best place to set up a hand sanitizer station would be at the entrances or front desks. Ideally, one should encourage all attendees to clean their hands before entering the main spaces for interaction. This will ultimately reduce the overall panic and fear of contracting the disease as well.
Do Masks Help?
Surgical masks can be of help in making sure the disease does not travel from an infected person to a non-infected person, but cannot protect a non-infected person from infection. This means that germs can still go from an infected person's body, although wearing a mask reduces the risk of that happening.
By wearing a mask, the infected person ensures that if they cough or sneeze, the vapors that are likely diseased do not disperse into the air and infect others by chance. So overall, if you hand out masks at your event, you can, to some extent, reduce the chances of spreading coronavirus.
However, ordinary surgical masks cannot guarantee disease control. Firstly, masks only work when hand cleaning and other preventive measures are also implemented at the same time. And secondly, surgical masks must be disposed of properly after being used once to curb disease spread.
Encourage People Not To Shake Hands
While it might sound awkward, the best way to ensure that COVID-19 does not spread further is by asking people to avoid shaking hands. Easily one of the fastest ways of the disease spreading is through touch. So, remind people to avoid handshakes at multiple intervals during the event.
Moreover, you should hire entertainment for the event that does not require a "hands-on" approach, i.e., performances in which there is little to no physical contact between the performers and the audience. This, too, will make sure that no transference of disease occurs.
One solution to this may be hiring aerial performers or performers that incorporate fire into their routines. Examples of such works may be found in abundance at our website, JestrEvents.com.
Event Safety – Consider The Risks
Despite all safety measures, you should remain cautious and think practically about the dangers of having an event in the middle of a global health epidemic. Think about the severity of the disease in the area of your event, alongside local, regional, or national sentiments that may affect your attendance.
Do people want this event to happen? Will they attend? How bad is the spread of coronavirus in the region? Is there a considerable risk of attendees getting sick? These are some of the essential questions you should consider answering.
The general sentiments surrounding the risks of public events may show that any open event should not be held if the coronavirus has been detected in the country. However, experts suggest not panicking and continuing to conduct affairs responsibly.
They suggest that people and organizations practice better daily hygiene and refrain from being in public settings only if the virus has not been contained in the area. In the meantime, countries with only a few reported cases that have been isolated may go ahead with their festivities.
However, taking precautionary measures can be beneficial in ensuring that public panic is curtailed and managed productively and efficiently.
