Events in the time of COVID-19 & Temporary Structures
Since mid-March, the United States has been battling widespread outbreaks of the COVID-19 virus. Meaning, shut downs of all events, ranging from music festivals, to sporting events, and even small scale business meetings. While businesses such as restaurants and retailers begin to open. The events space is still in the early steps of what the industry will look like in the coming months and years. The CDC has compiled a page of guidelines for the events space, a big one being to keep events outside and spaced out to decrease the spread of the virus. With events moving outside, many leaders in the industry are looking towards installing temporary structures outdoors to maintain safety guidelines.
CDC Guidelines for Events and Gatherings
While large scale events and gatherings are still discouraged, the CDC has offered considerations for individuals and communities hosting small events to enhance the safety of those attending. Keep in mind that the more people an individual interacts with at a gathering/event and the longer that interaction lasts, the higher the potential risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 is. Additionally, the size of an event or gathering should be determined based on state and local regulations/laws.
COVID-19 spreads between people through small droplets produced when an individual talks, coughs, sneezes, etc. When planning an event, it is important to mitigate the interaction between others where these droplets could spread. According to the CDC this means making sure attendees stay home if they are sick, wear a mask and cover their face when they cough/sneeze, stay outdoors if you can to maintain air circulation, and keep at least 6 feet of distance between attendees who are not in the same household. It is important for any individual or organization planning a gathering/event to read up on vital safety measures to take in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. For the complete list of guidelines, visit the CDC website.
Examples of Temporary Structures for Events
With the CDC recommending that gatherings and events remain outside for better air circulation and distancing capabilities, it is important that organizations holding events have proper outdoor structures. Temporary structures for events are put in place in order to uphold safety guidelines while at the event. This can look like anything from tents, to distanced chairs, to plastic dividers between seats.
For example, Choura has assembled state of the art tents for organizations, such as churches, to be able to hold gatherings. In our tent built for Seacoast Grace Church, we provided a 26,910 sqft tent that can hold up to 300 people with proper social distancing measures in place. We also can provide on site testing, partitions between seats, and additional measures to make sure that your event is as safe as it can be during these unprecedented times. For more information about our temporary structures for events, visit our website.
Additional Safety Measures When Attending Events
When attending an event, it is important to know that the host of the event is taking the appropriate precautions (social distancing, sanitation, etc.) to support the safety of those attending. It is important that you as an individual help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus by wearing a mask, washing your hands, and maintaining at least 6 feet of distance from those who are not in your household when attending an event.
