The Effects of COVID-19 on Events and Parties
UPDATED 3-30-20
If you’re like many Americans, the spread of COVID-19 has had a major impact for you, your family and any upcoming events you are hosting or attending. As with any serious illness that can be spread through contact with other people, health and safety come first. What does everyone hosting a party need to know about the effects of COVID-19 on events, and what can you do to communicate with your guests?
The Effects of COVID-19 on Events and Parties
Weeks ago we began reading about countries across the globe closing their borders, sports teams playing to empty stands, conferences being cancelled and travel warnings. Many workplaces told their employees not to travel. As the virus spread, all large events have been canceled to flatten the curve and limit the possibility of transmission and keep individuals with the virus, who may not be showing symptoms yet, from coming into contact with others. Many of you have had to postpone your upcoming events.
What Should You Do?
When folks began to postpone their events in mid-March, it was because of concern for our out-of-town guests who had decided to stay home. At that time, most state health departments were advising people over the age of 60 (or 40 with high-risk conditions) to avoid air travel. Then more recently states started limiting the size of groups and all kinds of events started postponing. We have been advising our clients to stay in touch with guests to first let them know you are not avoiding the topic and to also let them know that your upcoming event needs to be postponed.
As of this update all of our April events have been postponed. If you are hosting an event over the next few weeks or couple of months, it would be wise to think about your contingency plan options now in the event that you need to use them. Reach out to your vendors to find out what their cancellation or postponement policies are. Even small events like a local birthday party need to come up with a contingency plan. Communicate with your guests to let them know of the new plans. Whether you choose to communicate with a formal announcement or an email, stay in touch with everyone.
Celebrating and Avoiding the Effects of COVID-19
Now more than ever we need to find creative solutions to hosting events. Once the health situation changes and we are told it is safe to start hosting events again, we suggest being very cautious and keeping safety in mind. Here are some suggestions to assist you in planning in the weeks and months ahead:
Find ways to deal with the stress of party planning as stress will lower your immune system and make you more susceptible to illness. Eat a healthy diet, take vitamin C, and find activities like yoga, exercise or another enjoyable hobby to reduce your stress.
Look into live streaming your event. Send out the link, instructions and time to tune in to your guests unable to attend
Place signage to remind guests to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds and cover their mouths with their elbow or a tissue when sneezing
Put out hand sanitizer, boxes of tissues and trash cans in multiple locations at your event
If you were having a buffet, consider adding white gloved servers to place food on your guests plates to minimize sharing of serving utensils. Or perhaps, switch to a served meal.
Avoid dances that involve hand-holding or other close contact
Avoid physical contact such as handshaking or hugging and replace with alternative methods of greeting
If you are having a candy bar, offer wrapped candies in lieu of loose unwrapped candies
Work with Innovative Party Planners
Innovative Party Planners will attempt to be as flexible and clear as possible as we deal with these unforeseen developments. Leave the worrying to us. Reach out if you have any questions or concerns. We are your resource for event design and planning in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and Virginia. To learn more about our event planning services and how we can help make your event one of a kind, contact us by calling (410) 998-9999.