What does COVID testing look like for events?

What does COVID testing look like for events?

A lot of things have changed in our COVID-19 pandemic world.  One of which is COVID testing for events and the way that events are handled. It is now widespread knowledge that the virus can be easily transmitted between two people if they are within a 6-foot proximity of each other for an extended period of time (anytime longer than 15 minutes according to the CDC). While wearing masks and face coverings greatly decreases the likelihood of transmitting the virus, it is still important to maintain a physical distance when around others. This makes for a challenge when thinking about hosting events in the future. Providing COVID testing for events might be a feasible solution for future event planners, workers, and attendees. 

COVID Testing General Facts

The Center for Disease Control has released guidelines around best practices for event planners that are hosting gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic. These guidelines have put an emphasis around promoting healthy behavior amongst everyone who will be at the event, including both workers and attendees. Healthy practices to be adopted by event planners when hosting events are:

• Staying home when appropriate. If a worker or attendee is feeling unwell, make sure that they stay home for the safety of others.
• Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Employees and attendees should be washing their hands frequently, and covering their mouths when they cough or sneeze. 
• Wearing a mask. Require that employees and attendees wear a mask to the event. Masks are vital when distance cannot be maintained at an event, such as moving through a crowd to get to seats.
• Signs and messages. Provide signs as reminders to employees and guests of the event of what precautions they need to be taking for the safety of themselves and others.

As we look toward attending events in the future, it is important to keep these tips in mind. Choura has been implementing these measures in their builds for restaurants and hospitals, which you can learn more about here. These preventative measures can make a significant difference in slowing the spread of COVID-19.

Should event producers provide COVID testing for event staff and attendees?

Ensuring that all event staff and attendees have been recently tested for COVID-19 prior to arriving is a large feat, and will it make a difference in slowing the spread? The CDC has addressed providing COVID testing for events on their website. While it cannot be officially recommended as a risk-proof measure, COVID-19 testing may support a larger health safety strategy. According to the CDC, it may be beneficial to provide health checks, such as temperature screenings or symptom checks, for staff and attendees, as that has more history of being successful.

While providing mass COVID testing for events has not been studied enough to prove complete efficacy, there are plenty of precautions that event planners can take to increase the safety of their workers and patrons.

Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/large-events/event-planners-and-attendees-faq.html

https://www.choura.co/the-work/