Festive events guidance for organisers 2021 - Public Health Dorset
Festive events guidance for organisers 2021
Many of us are looking forward to a Christmas period with fewer restrictions than last year, but COVID-19 is still with us and with high case rates locally, we’re encouraging event organisers to consider precautions to minimise the spread of the virus.
COVID-19 spreads easily when lots of people gather in crowded and indoor spaces. Droplets of COVID-19 are released into the air when an infected person speaks, breathes, coughs or sneezes, and these particles can infect other people when they are breathed in.
We are asking organisers of all events to carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment ahead of holding their event. Full guidance is available from the government.
If you’re organising an event, there are a number of things you can consider, to reduce the risks from COVID-19:
Before the event
- Can you encourage attendees to take a lateral flow test before coming?
- Have you made it clear that people with symptoms or a positive test should not come into the venue?
- Have you considered ventilation? Can you hold your event outdoors and if not, does your venue have good ventilation?
- Have you thought about the layout of the venue and identified any potential areas of congestion? (e.g. toilets, refreshments, entrances and exits)
- Can you implement one-way systems to reduce close contact and maintain social distancing?
- Have you put in place arrangements for regular opportunities for handwashing or sanitising?
- Have you considered how attendees will travel to your event and any pressure this may put on public transport?
- Can you stagger arrival and departure times?
- Can you limit the capacity of your event?
- If your event involves rehearsals beforehand, can you keep them short with good ventilation and social distancing?
- Have you considered QR code check-in or collecting contact details from those attending to help with contact tracing if there are positive cases identified after your event?
During the event
- If indoors, have you got doors and windows open to make sure there is plenty of fresh air?
- Have you displayed signage to encourage people to:
- Maintain distance
- Follow any one-way systems
- Wear a face covering in indoor or crowded areas
- Go home if they feel unwell?
- If you have music at your event, can you reduce the volume to avoid people needing to raise their voices which increases the risk of transmission?
- Have you provided and replenished stocks of hand wash, sanitiser and paper towels?
- Have you asked people to share contact details for contact tracing purposes?
- Are you cleaning touchpoints regularly?
After the event
- Have you ventilated the venue after the event has finished to provide fresh air?
- Can you contact attendees if you are notified of a positive case who was at your event during their infectious period?
Current government guidance allows events to go ahead but stay up-to-date with the latest information in case restrictions change before your event.