Attractions, Large Venues & Large Community Events
General Guidelines
- Face coverings are strongly encouraged for all persons (employee and guest) in all public places where close proximity to others is anticipated. Businesses and organizations may determine to require the use of face coverings by those on premise. There is increasing evidence that cloth face coverings help slow or prevent the spread of COVID-19. Face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone unable to remove the mask without assistance
- Persons should stay home when feeling ill
- Any person who has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 must isolate at home for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms (or the date they were tested, if asymptomatic) AND must be fever-free (without the use of fever-reducing medications) AND have improvement in symptoms for at least 24 hours
- Any person who has been a close contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or longer) of a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should quarantine at home for a period of 14 days from their last exposure to that individual. A negative COVID test does not affect this quarantine requirement
- Screen for COVID-19 symptoms, or ask individuals to self-screen
- Symptoms include: cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, sore throat, fever (temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater), chills, new loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
- Take appropriate precautions to maintain the confidentiality of health information
- Mitigate exposure in the workplace by implementing social distancing practices to the greatest extent possible
- Take into account critical factors such as venue capacity and physical characteristics, type of activity involved, and location (indoor vs. outdoor) to properly assess risk and exercise good faith judgment in maintaining appropriate social distancing for each unique situation
- Such measures could include: spacing workstations appropriately; limiting capacity of gatherings in confined, indoor spaces; utilizing larger and/or outdoor spaces; limiting congregation in common and break areas; utilizing virtual/remote capabilities where possible; allowing work from home where appropriate; and/or modified scheduling
- Consider the use of barriers at counters or between workstations where helpful
- Improve ventilation for confined, indoor spaces. Circulate outdoor air where possible and when code compliance and security may be maintained
- Increase hygiene practices—encourage frequent handwashing with soap and water, make hand sanitizer (60% alcohol) readily available, encourage practicing good respiratory etiquette when coughing or sneezing and avoiding touching one’s face
- Implement cleaning and disinfection practices according to CDC recommendations, with frequent disinfection of shared/common or high-touch surfaces
- Plan for potential COVID-19 cases and work with health department officials (including observing isolation/quarantine protocols, assisting with contact tracing, planning for personnel absences or remote work, and deep cleaning facilities). Notify the local health department of employee positive cases and cooperate with the local health department in notifying close contacts
- If a facility becomes aware that a person has a confirmed case of COVID-19:
- Close off areas used by the person who is sick. Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the areas
- Wait up to 24 hours or as long as possible before you clean or disinfect to allow respiratory droplets to settle before cleaning and disinfecting
- Clean and disinfect all areas used by the person who is sick, such as offices, bathrooms, and common areas
- If more than 7 days have passed since the person who is sick visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary
- Educate persons about COVID-19 with signage (resources available from ERG and CDC)
- Use signage, floor markings or other cues to direct human traffic flow and manage lines
- Consider appropriate precautions for people at increased risk of severe illness from COVID
- Increase remote, curbside, pickup, and/or delivery options to minimize contact and maintain social distancing. Use contactless methods where practical (e.g., payment, check-in, etc.)
- Be mindful of applicable state or local COVID-19 regulations or orders and ensure your operations facilitate compliance
- Evaluate the profile of customer and employee engagement with the venue and other persons at such venue to make appropriate adaptations as necessary to protect against COVID-19, even if not recommended or described in this document
- Take steps to ensure that all mechanical, electrical, and water systems are properly functioning and safe for use after a prolonged facility shutdown
- Covered employers and employees should be aware of the provisions of the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which allows for paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons, such as for self-quarantining or seeking a medical diagnosis for COVID-19 symptoms
Revised: October 1, 2020
Industry Guidelines
These guidelines are for any venue (indoor or outdoor), facility, or place of interest which offers leisure, amusement or entertainment activities. These venues include, for example, concert and performing arts venues, amusement and water parks, fairs, festivals, expos, parades, auditoriums, theaters and dinner theaters, zoos, museums, convention centers, roller or ice skating rinks, sporting event venues, and similar places or events.
- For activities requiring close contact between staff and participants, have staff wear face coverings. Encourage or require the use of face coverings by participants.
- Implement social distancing practices
- Modify seating by blocking off seats or rows within a section to accommodate social distancing of at least 6 feet between individuals from different households or groups
- Avoid combining persons or small groups with separate persons or small groups, unless appropriate social distancing can be maintained by the combined group
- For example, multiple separate small groups may sit on a set of bleachers and watch an event, but only if the separate groups maintain at least six (6) feet of separation from one another, rather than all attendees sitting together without adequate separation. Maintaining such separation may necessitate limits on overall venue capacity
- Limit capacity in or at a venue at a given time. While no specific capacity percentage is being required or recommended, take into account critical factors such as venue capacity and physical characteristics, type of activity involved, and location (indoor vs. outdoor) to properly assess risk and exercise good faith judgment in maintaining appropriate social distancing for each unique situation. Large gatherings offer more opportunities for person-to-person contact and therefore pose greater risk of COVID-19 transmission
- Implement strategies to help reduce density of persons during peak hours and manage the flow of customers (including distancing within queuing/lines). Utilize social distancing “reminders” (signs, floor decals or ground markings, and/or video/audio announcements)
- Manage the number of people present in restroom facilities at any one time to reduce potential exposure within those confined indoor spaces, and ensure that disinfection occurs frequently
- Limit the duration of indoor activities or performances where possible, as prolonged visits within a confined space may increase risk of exposure
- Establish health/safety protocols for the venue if a customer or employee becomes ill while at the venue and not be able to immediately leave the facility. Immediately isolate the ill person and have the person wear a mask; have any staff with the person wear a face covering and take appropriate protective measures
- Use caution with singing and live music. Research suggests that activities like singing or using a projected voice may project respiratory droplets in greater quantity and over greater distance, increasing the risk of COVID-19 transmission, particularly with prolonged exposure. At a minimum, maintain at least 15 feet of separation between audience members and performers such as vocalists and singers
- Events with vendors exhibits and booths (fairs, festivals, trade shows, etc.) should increase separation between booths and exhibits. Limit the number of persons inside a booth at any one time and require social distancing in lines that form
- Where possible, maintain visitor/customer contact information for up to 30 days in order to assist public health officials in the event contact tracing is necessary
- Coordinate with local health department officials or other healthcare providers
- Evaluate refund, exchange, and event cancelation or postponement policies, in anticipation that ill persons will be unable to attend and/or if local health conditions change in your community due to COVID-19
- Space out porta-potty clusters to create greater social distancing within lines; consider decreasing the ratio of the number of persons per porta-potty. Work with vendor or volunteers to maintain hygiene supplies and to regularly sanitize porta-potties
- Consider “drive-in” or other remote participation or other modifications to promote social distancing and minimize larger crowds (e.g., fireworks displays, concerts)
- Avoid or modify parades in order to reduce density of persons (e.g., extend and widen parade route, encourage spacing between household or acquaintance groups along parade route, offer livestream or virtual participation, or limit the number of attendees if possible)
- Zoos and aquariums should follow applicable COVID precautions recommended by the CDC
- Follow applicable Tennessee Pledge guidelines for food service or concession operations, retail operations, and/or water operations. Livestock competitions and events should refer to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Guidance for Live Shows and Events and the CDC COVID-19 Considerations for Animal Activities at Fairs, Shows, and Other Events