Respiratory infection control
Respiratory infections, such as coronavirus (COVID-19) and influenza (flu), can spread easily and cause serious illness in some people. You may be infected with a respiratory virus and not have any symptoms but still pass infection onto others.
The guidance below is for anyone planning or managing an event. Full guidance is available from the government at GOV.UK: living safely with respiratory infections, including COVID-19.
Vaccination
Vaccines are the best defence against respiratory infections. For full details about vaccinations available from the NHS, go to NHS: vaccinations.
Let fresh air in
The amount of respiratory virus in the air can build up in poorly ventilated areas. This increases the risk of spreading respiratory infections, especially if lots of infected people are present. The virus can remain in the air after an infected person has left.
If there are any enclosed spaces at your event, you must make sure there are enough openings in the structure. For example, the sides of marquees could be raised.
Hand sanitisers
Hands touch many surfaces and can become contaminated with viruses and other germs. Once contaminated, hands can transfer these to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the germs can enter your body and infect you.
Hand sanitisers should be provided at the entrances to your event and at other important locations to encourage good hand hygiene.
Clean surfaces
Surfaces and belongings can be contaminated with germs when people who are infected touch them or cough, talk or breathe over them. Cleaning surfaces will reduce the risk of spreading infections.
Surfaces that many people can be expected to touch – called 'common touch points' – include door handles, toilet handles, taps, handrails and play equipment. You should put in place a plan for sanitising common touch points often throughout your event.
Signs for face coverings
Wearing a face covering or face mask can reduce the number of particles containing viruses that are released from the mouth and nose of someone who has a respiratory infection.
People who wish to face covering or face mask should feel comfortable doing so. We encourage the use of signs at marquees and other indoor spaces to support this. For example, signs could say: "The wearing of face coverings/masks is welcomed".
Drinking water dispensers
Drinking water dispensers should be designed to prevent people drinking directly into their mouth. They should be of the type that, by design, only allows a drinking container to be filled from the dispenser. This will help to prevent the transmission of germs from the mouth or respiratory tract.