Memorial Day is dedicated to honoring our fallen heroes by taking the time to reflect on their sacrifices. However, Memorial Day is not complete without the Memorial Day weekend that follows. It is common for people to take weekend trips or throw parties and barbecues on the holiday. This is mainly because the Saturday and Sunday before Memorial Day and Memorial Day itself mark (unofficially) the beginning of summer.
However, there is one big difference between the Memorial Day of 2021 and other Memorial Day holidays that have been celebrated in the past (excluding 2020, of course). The coronavirus is still out there, but there are also vaccines available.
Unlike the year 2020, when everything was in lockdown, and people were discouraged from carrying out festivities and trips, this year is slightly different. The presence of vaccines means that the regulations surrounding events and gatherings have changed quite a bit. While fully vaccinated people can travel domestically, the CDC still advises against organizing large events.
The key points of the new recommendations by the CDC concerning gatherings are:
- Avoid large events and gatherings when possible.
- Consider the level of risk when deciding to host an event.
- Make sure that you promote healthy behaviors and maintain safe environments to mitigate the risk when large events and gatherings are held.
- Be prepared if someone gets sick during or after the event.
CDC recommends that if you consider attending or organizing a large gathering, those held outdoors are safer than indoor gatherings. If you or anyone close to you is sick, you should stay home and not attend any form of public gathering.
Here are some of the actions recommended by the CDC to be performed by people considering organizing a large gathering on special occasions such as Memorial Day:
Wear a mask
- Ensure that you wear a mask with two or more layers to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- Ensure that your mask covers your nose and mouth, secure it under your chin, and make sure it fits snugly against the sides of your face.
- Keep a spare mask in case your mask gets damaged or moistened.
Stay at least 6 feet away from people you don't live with
- Since you are more likely to get or spread COVID-19 when you come in close contact with people you don’t live with, it is recommended to stay 6 feet away from people at gatherings.
- Choose safely disinfected venues if possible.
Avoid congested or poorly ventilated indoor space
- The CDC recommends that you attend outdoor events and avoid large indoor gatherings whenever possible.
Get vaccinated
- Authorized COVID-19 vaccines can help protect you from COVID-19.
- Ensure that you get vaccinated as soon as possible.
- Once you are fully vaccinated, you may start doing some of the things you stopped doing during the pandemic, like gathering with family and friends (who are also vaccinated).
To ensure that your event is safe for everyone (vaccinated and unvaccinated), you should hire the services of a disinfection company like Safe From Spread. Safe From Spread will use industrial-grade and material-specific products that are non-toxic and eco-friendly yet just as effective as other leading commercial cleaning products to carry out thorough disinfection of your premises.