When it comes to COVID, outdoor events are far safer than indoor events. As the country continues to experience high levels of hospitalizations and cases, outdoor gatherings are still the most safest.
However, “way less dangerous” does not mean “zero risk”. Even at outdoor events, there is still the possibility of contracting COVID. This is because the virus continues to evolve and become more transmissible.
“With the more transmissible varieties, it’s probable that shorter periods of close contacts will result in transmission,” Dr. Preeti Maani, an infectious disease physician and professor of medicine at University of Michigan, says.
This means that activities once considered safe can be risky now, even outdoor activities.
Maimuna Majumder is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. She is also a computational epidemiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Experts interviewed for this article suggest that you take extra precautions in the event of a surge such as the one currently occurring in the U.S.
Donald Milton, professor of occupational and environmental health at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, says that people will make their own judgments.
Majumder believes that outdoor events can reduce transmissibility by not being too crowded. Majumder says that guests should have plenty of space to move about aEUR. She also recommends making sure they are current on their vaccinations and are healthy.
Experts answer frequently asked questions about safety while outdoors gatherings with friends and family.
What time should guests be tested?
Majumder assisted her friend in planning a wedding for about 100 people. They have never heard of COVID.
They made sure that everything was outside, including the rehearsal dinners and happy hours, which were all held around the wedding.
They reminded everyone that they must be current on boosters and vaccinations to help prevent the spread of the virus.
They asked their guests to remain home if they felt any symptoms.
Everyone agreed to do a quick test before the event.
Majumder has hosted other parties and events with similar guidelines and she has yet to hear of anyone getting sick.
For those still believing that you aren’t contagious even if you don’t show symptoms, a pre-event test may surprise you.
Majumder says that there have been many instances when people without symptoms tested positive so they have stayed home. Majumder asks everyone to have a rapid test within one hour of her events. In case of an emergency, Majumder keeps quick tests in her bag.
It is important to get tested before the event. Rapid tests can tell if someone is positive or contagious. However, their status can change in a matter of hours so it is important to take a quick test early in the morning. You could become contagious at night.
Although rapid tests may not always be foolproof, they can provide additional protection.
Sometimes people feel a little off, and they stay home from Majumder’s events. However, they test positive the next day aEUR,” which means that they were contagious at the party.
Malani states that COVID risk can be managed by monitoring symptoms and adding testing and vaccination in a low-risk outdoor setting.
Are the safety rules still in effect once the event is over?
It is still a great idea to keep a distance. It doesn’t matter if you are having a wedding, or a BBQ. This might mean that families should be seated at the same table.
For contact tracers who want to reach people who have been exposed to COVID, the “15-minute rule”, was created. You are more likely to contract the virus if you have been in close contact for longer than 15 minutes with someone. However, it is possible to contract the virus from someone else in an indoor setting.
According to video footage, Australian authorities recorded a case where someone fell ill after being infected while walking through a mall.
How much virus someone is emitting, your immunity level from prior infections aEUR”, and how much fresh air there is between you and them all will determine whether you get sick.
Where do masks fit in?
Milton states that COVID is best when it’s outdoors because there’s more fresh air and less distance.
However, if you are unable to keep your distance from a crowd at a sporting event, concert or protest, aEUR’ masking up will greatly reduce the risk of getting sick.
This is especially true for people who shout and yell, if they’re close to you for a prolonged period of time, and if you don’t know their vaccination status, test results, and symptom status.
Milton says, “If you are close together you’re more likely to share air.”
His colleagues think they caught COVID outside early in the pandemic. One was at an outdoor brunch and one was in line to get groceries in spring 2020.
Milton states that there has always been a risk outside. It’s lower than indoors, but not zero.
Higher risk is the closer you are to someone. If you are close enough to someone, such as to smell their food choices, then you can inhale any viral particles.
There are also chances of air moving in the wrong direction.
Milton states that virus-laden exhaled particles can “travel the length of the outdoors” just like smoke plumes. This means that even if you aren’t right next to someone, it is possible to become infected.
However, the odds of receiving COVID from a distance outside are much lower than any other interaction such as speaking closer together or meeting indoors.
Majumder states that the outdoors can be safer but not always safe. “The more outdoor spaces are crowded, the more they mimic indoor spaces in terms of our exposure and sharing air.”
She says that masks are not necessary outdoors if the event isn’t too crowded and everyone has been tested negative.
What happens if we have to go inside for an outdoor event?
Majumder adds that even if the event is outdoors, some people might need to go inside to wash their hands or use the toilet.
When guests need to run inside, they should have a mask such as an N95 or F94. Majumder suggests that hosts keep masks “stocked” and readily accessible for guests who need them for indoor excursions.
Malani states that masks are still very useful and important. Keep masks handy, especially if you or someone in your household is at high risk.
You can improve ventilation and filtration indoors through opening windows and running air purifiers inside bathrooms and hallways.
Side flaps are not necessary to protect the tent from rain or sun, but they can allow air to flow through the tent. Milton states that if the tent is enclosed it is not much different from being indoors.
Malani says that social gatherings can sometimes move indoors due to bad weather, low or high temperatures or annoying mosquitoes. “That’s when transmission risk can increase from low to very high.”
Do I need to invite people from outside the city?
When there are many out-of-town guests, the likelihood of transmission is high. It is possible for guests to travel in, stay at hotels with poor ventilation, eat in restaurants, and visit family and friends. These activities could be risky, even if your event is low-risk.
Malani states that the greater the number of people in a group, the greater the risk. This is because more people are at risk of contracting the virus or passing it on to others.
She says, “Prevention is using a multilayered approach.” You should take every precaution possible, aEUR” distancing, being at home if you are ill, and testing and masks if necessary.
She says that when these measures are taken, “being outside is a wonderful place to spend time with your family.”
Melody Schreiber (@m_scribe), is a journalist who edits What We Didn’t Expect: Personal Stories about Premature Birth.
