Guidelines for Indoor Gatherings

~

At my monthly meeting's last business meeting, I said I would review the most current research-based recommendations for meeting in person.  Here is what I found. It is mostly made up of relevant parts of the guidelines for indoor gatherings from the Centers for Disease Control.

Indoor Gatherings

Summary

The Safest Gathering is entirely virtual.

A Riskier Gathering is a hybrid of an outdoor in-person meeting and a virtual meeting. People in high risk groups, (ex. older adults, people with certain medical conditions) attend virtually. A lot of stuff is done to minimize risk in in-person gathering—cleaning, tape on ground, bathroom stuff, supplies, communication, etc. This is explained in more detail below. Masks are worn. (I assume this would be the case, even during vocal ministry. - DMc) The CDC document says, “Prioritize outdoor activities where social distancing can be maintained as much as possible.”

Even more risky is a hybrid indoor in-person meeting and a virtual meeting. People in high risk groups, (ex. older adults, people with certain medical conditions) attend virtually. A lot of stuff is done to minimize risk in in-person gathering—cleaning, tape on ground, bathroom stuff, supplies, communication, etc. This is explained in more detail below. Masks are worn. (Again, I assume this would be the case, even during vocal ministry. - DMc)

A more inclusive list of how risky various gatherings are is below in the CDC section

A More Detailed Sets of Recommendations

University  of Washington recommendations, 9/22/2020

• Experts continue to emphasize that small social gatherings are much safer when held outside versus inside because air ventilation is remarkably better outdoors.
• Continue observing social distancing by six feet or more while inside. Experts say wearing a face mask indoors is of the utmost importance.
• Open windows to increase the air flow and ventilation inside.

Centers for Disease Control Guidelines

• The more people an individual interacts with at a gathering and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the potential risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and COVID-19 spreading.
  • Lowest risk: Virtual-only activities, events, and gatherings.
  • More risk: Smaller outdoor and in-person gatherings in which individuals from different households remain spaced at least 6 feet apart, wear masks, do not share objects, and come from the same local area (e.g., community, town, city, or county).
  • Higher risk: Medium-sized in-person gatherings that are adapted to allow individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and with attendees coming from outside the local area.
  • Highest risk: Large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet apart and attendees travel from outside the local area.
• SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is thought to be mostly spread by respiratory droplets released when people talk, cough, or sneeze. It is thought that the virus may also spread to hands from a contaminated surface and then to the nose, mouth or eyes, causing infection. Therefore, personal prevention practices (such as handwashing, staying home when sick, maintaining 6 feet of distance, and wearing a mask) and environmental prevention practices (such as cleaning and disinfection) are important ways to prevent the virus’s spread.

Adequate Supplies  

Ensure adequate supplies to support healthy hygienepdficon behaviors. Supplies include soap, water, hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol, paper towels, tissues, disinfectant wipes, masks (as feasible), and no-touch trash cans.

Signs and Messages 

• Post signs in highly visible locations (e.g., at entrances, in restrooms) that promote everyday protective measures and describe how to stop the spreadpdf icon of germs by properly washing hands and properly wearing a maskimage icon.
• Broadcast regular announcements on reducing the spread of COVID-19 on public address systems.
• Include messages (for example, videos) about behaviors that prevent spread of COVID-19 when communicating with staff, vendors, and attendees (such as on the event website and through event social media accounts).
• Find freely available CDC print and digital resources about COVID-19 on CDC’s communications resources main page.

Protections for Staff and Attendees who are at Higher Risk of Severe Illness from COVID-19

• Offer options for staff at higher risk for severe illness (including older adults and people of any age with underlying medical conditions) that limit their exposure risk. For example:
  • Offer telework and modified job responsibilities for staff, such as setting up for the event rather than working at the registration desk.
  • Replace in-person meetings with video- or tele-conference calls whenever possible.
• As feasible, offer options for attendees at higher risk for severe illness that limit their exposure risk (e.g., virtual attendance).

Travel & Transit

• Reconfigure parking lots to limit congregation points and ensure proper separation of employees (e.g., closing every other parking space).

Communal Spaces 

• Stagger use of shared indoor spaces such as dining halls…as much as possible and clean and disinfect them between uses.

Physical Barriers and Guides 

• Provide physical guides, such as tape on floors or sidewalks and signs on walls, to ensure that individuals remain at least 6 feet apart in lines and at other times (e.g., guides for creating one-way routes).
• Change seating layout or availability of seating so that people can remain least 6 feet apart.

Modified Layouts 

• Use multiple entrances and exits and discourage crowded waiting areas.
• Block off rows or sections of seating in order to space people at least 6 feet apart.
• Eliminate lines or queues if possible or encourage people to stay at least 6 feet apart by providing signs or other visual cues such as tape or chalk marks.
• Prioritize outdoor activities where social distancing can be maintained as much as possible.

Communication Systems. Put systems in place to:

• Advise attendees prior to the event or gathering that they should not attend if they have symptoms of, a positive test for, or were recently exposed (within 14 days) to COVID-19.
• Notify staff, attendees, and the public of cancellations and restrictions in place to limit people’s exposure to COVID-19 (e.g., limited hours of operation).

Restrooms

• Do not allow lines or crowds to form near the restroom without maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from other people. It may be helpful to post signs or markers to help attendees maintain the appropriate social distance of at least 6 feet.
• Ensure that open restrooms are:
  • Cleaned and disinfected regularly, particularly high-touch surfaces such as faucets, toilets, stall doors, doorknobs, countertops, diaper changing tables, and light switches.
  • Clean and disinfect restrooms daily or more often, if possible, with EPA-approved disinfectants against COVID-19.
  • Adequately stocked with supplies for handwashing, including soap and water or hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol (for staff and older children who can safely use hand sanitizer), paper towels, tissues, and no-touch trash cans.

Ventilation 

• Ensure ventilation systems operate properly and increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible, for example, by opening windows and doors. 
• If portable ventilation equipment like fans are used, take steps to minimize air from them blowing from one person directly at another person to reduce the potential spread of any airborne or aerosolized viruses.

from Amy Cooke, Grass Valley Friends Meeting (10/18/2020)