4 Things for Event Planners to prepare for: Covid misconceptions

BizBritain By BizBritain
over 3 years ago read
4 Things for Event Planners to prepare for: Covid misconceptions

As if planning an event wasn’t hard enough already, now there is a global pandemic to deal with on top of the already-established stress. Events are slowly but surely happening again, so with this, we’re going to break down some Covid misconceptions and things event planners need to prepare for. 
 
  1. You can’t choose between masks and social distancing
    Have you heard these two phrases: “I don’t need to socially distance; I’m wearing a mask” or “it doesn’t matter if I don’t wear a mask; I’m socially distancing”?  Chances are you have because during this pandemic people have been trying to find loopholes to do one of the others - but they go hand in hand. Neither of these methods is 100% effective in stopping the spread, so together they reduce the chance of spreading.  It has been stated by Mayo Clinic that “...face masks combined with other preventive measures, such as frequent hand-washing and social distancing, help slow the spread of the virus.”  

  2. People with asthma can still wear a mask
    Early on in the outbreak, it was thought that people with respiratory illnesses, such as asthma, shouldn’t wear a mask as it can make those symptoms worse. However, as research has progressed, Asthma UK has revealed that even those with severe asthma “can manage to wear a face mask or covering for a short period of time, and shouldn't worry if they need to wear one. Wearing a mask does not reduce a person’s oxygen supply or cause a build-up of carbon dioxide.”  

  3. Wearing gloves is better than hand washing
    The thing about germs is that they spread – quickly. Gloves, in some cases, can actually be more harmful than not wearing them. Once you slip a glove on, it can become a breeding ground for germs. If the glove becomes damaged, that’s when bacteria can be released as well as enter the glove.  Once the glove is removed, that’s when all of the bacteria is free to travel to whatever you have touched. It’s better to get used to washing your hands regularly to prevent spreading anything.  One way to add more wash stations is for events to invest in quality portable toilets. Fortis Hire, for example, offers toilet hire across the UK with handwashing stations and foot-operated flushes, to slow the spread of germs.  

  4. Drinking alcohol doesn’t protect you from Covid-19
    While alcohol is essential in antibacterial hand gel, drinking alcohol does not prevent Coronavirus and can in fact be dangerous. It’s known to negatively impact our health, but also consuming it can alter our judgements and sometimes encourage risk-taking behaviours. If you’re planning an event where alcohol could be served, consider limiting it or removing it altogether.  

These are some common Covid misconceptions, but if you take care and consideration and ask any questions you may be unsure of, you can plan a safe and successful event without risking anyone’s health.