As the World Health Organization declares the transmission of the COVID-19 virus a global pandemic and the Canadian government announces a $1-billion dollar package to deal with fallout from the virus, the city of Coquitlam has a clear message: Keep calm and wash your hands.
On Tuesday, March 10, the city said it will proceed with all scheduled programs and events, adding that despite the 39 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus identified in B.C., 鈥渢he risk remains low in our area.鈥�
And while across Metro Vancouver, many festival organizers 鈥� 鈥� have in an effort to maximize social distancing and halt the transmission of the contagion.
But for those planners struggling to decide whether to go ahead with a public gathering, health authorities have some useful advice when it comes to holding public gatherings in a pandemic.
As a respiratory pathogen, the risk of transmitting COVID-19 grows as people come in to close contact for extended periods of time. That said, the risk of public gatherings should be assessed on a case-by-case basis, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).
Every event presents a different set of variables that could affect how a COVID-19 is spread. That鈥檚 why PHAC recommends organizers conduct a risk assessment during the outbreak.
Organizers should consider crowd density, whether restricted points of entry and exit funnel participants through high-touch areas like doors and elevators as well as the limited medical care available for such large groups.听
Offering hygienic facilities so that participants can properly wash their hands and exercise other personal hygiene measures can also be a challenge.
Without resorting to cancelling the event, PHAC recommends organizers consider implementing the following strategies to mitigate risk:
- reduce the number of participants or changing the venue to prevent crowding;
- stagger arrivals and departures;
- provide packaged refreshments instead of a buffet;
- increase access to hand-washing stations;
- promote personal protective practices like hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and staying home if ill;
- offer virtual or livestreamed activities;
- and change the event program to reduce high-risk activities such as those that require physical contact between participants.
The BC Centre for Disease Control has a team on standby to answer any questions about the possible transmission of the new coronavirus; it can be reached by dialling 811.听
To help you better weigh the risk considerations when deciding whether to postpone or cancel a mass gathering, work your way through tool developed by the PHAC.
It will guide you through how to assess vulnerable people attending your event; what kinds of activities promote transmission; and how indoor or outdoor crowding, duration and on-site resources might affect the spread of the pathogen.
