September 2020 Monthly Blog – COVID-19 precautions when hosting events
If, with the kids going back to school, you were hoping to find time to reconnect with friends, family members and maybe to use the autumn sun to top up vitamin D levels, the Government’s latest COVID precautions may make outdoor events tricky to manage – but not impossible if you follow the right precautions.
Most outdoor festivals/concerts have been abandoned for 2020 as it extremely difficult to avoid crowding around stages where key artists are performing.
There are however many other outdoor events which take place in the open air where it should be relatively easy - with good management and public co-operation - to provide entertainment without the risks of crowding. Such events might include air displays, fireworks, music in the park, country fairs, mud-plugging, car boot sales, etc.
The Government hasn’t banned gatherings totalling more than 6 people – only individual groups larger than 6.
The following should be helpful on how event organisers can marshal such events, and keep different groups of people socially-distanced.
Risk Assessment of the Event
- Events need to be risk assessed to ensure that the space available is suitable for the size/density of audience and provision made for providing a safe infrastructure such a ticketing, recording (and later destroying) track & trace contact details, contactless payment, refreshments, merchandising, hand sanitising points etc.
- Access and egress from sites need to be managed and organisers might consider whether attendees need to face coverings.
- Think about persons outside the venue, who may come across queues caused by your event. Signage encouraging social distancing can be used to remind people, and security/marshalling used to encourage people to keep apart.
- You will need to think how you will let customers know that by law, they can only visit in groups of up to 6 people (unless they are visiting as a household or support bubble which is larger than 6). Groups must be kept apart from one another. Consideration might also be given to temperature checks and on-going cleaning of facilities such as toilets/seating/other touch points.
- Some events could be converted to drive-ins with cars parked at allocated distances.
- Many event caterers are now starting to offer pre-ordering or click-and-collect services.
- The use of technology could address some issues at events. For example, the use of bar code access on customer smartphones would help to reduce the contact points between staff and attendees.
Some other tips
- Advise employees and attendees to stay home if they have tested positive for COVID-19, are showing COVID-19 symptoms, or if they have had a close contact with a person who has symptoms of COVID-19 within the past 14 days.
- Consider what you need to do about ticketing, hand-washing, face coverings, signage, cleaning/sanitisation, erecting physical barriers, safe use of communal spaces, food delivery/payment.
- Collect contact details for track-and-trace.
Sources
- Listen to Jan Mirkowski, Arinite’s International Services Director speak to BBC Radio Surrey with guidance around public events during the Covid 19 Pandemic 24/08/2020.
- Events Industry Forum - Making Outdoor Event Gatherings Happen Again
- UK Hospitality - COVID19 Secure Guidelines For Hospitality Businesses
- Gov.UK - Working safely during coronavirus (COVID-19)/ The visitor economy
Contact us
Visit our comprehensive COVID-19 web page and if you have any questions regarding COVID-19 that you feel we may able to help with please do not hesitate in making contact, please call our office 0207 947 9581, or type an enquiry to: https://www.arinite.com/contact-us/.
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