During the time of COVID-19, it’s easy to feel whiplash as our safety guidance ebbs and flows with the rate of COVID-19 cases in our community.
Check out the questions below to learn how to handle in-person meetings and gathering safely.
If you do meet in person, make sure all participants are masked and properly distanced.
Can in-person meetings resume?
Yes. So long as the following guidelines are followed:
- Meeting participants must follow all PPE guidelines, including distancing, wearing a medical-grade face mask, and practicing good hand hygiene.
- The physical size of the meeting space determines the number of participants. A meeting can have as many participants as desired, so long as the size of the meeting space allows for social distancing (approximately six feet between participants).
Is there a limit to how many people can be at an in-person meeting?
Yes. The physical size of the meeting space determines the number of participants. A meeting can have as many participants as desired, so long as the size of the meeting space allows for proper social distancing.
Do I need to have a virtual option available?
You should accommodate individuals who may not be able to attend in person by providing a virtual option, like Zoom or Skype.
Can food be served during the meeting?
If you plan to have food at an in-person meeting or event, items should be pre-packaged and used as takeaway only (i.e., grab a cookie on your way out the door to enjoy safely in your office).
Looking for more general tips on how to eat safely at work? Check out this article on The Loop.
Other safe meeting best practices
Support hand hygiene
Consider having hand sanitizing stations readily available throughout the meeting. Make it easy for those in attendance to use hand sanitizer. It may seem simple, but it can greatly reduce the transmission of germs on shared surfaces.
Get vaccinated
Getting vaccinated is an important way to keep yourself and others safe. If you haven’t yet received your COVID-19 vaccine or booster and would like to, call the University Employee Health Clinic at 319-356-3631, option 3. You may also email employee-health@uiowa.edu to request an appointment.