PARTYING SAFELY DURING A PANDEMIC (Catering Column

Partying safely during a pandemic

CORONAVIRUS does not seem to be going away anytime soon, but restrictions are lifting, and vaccinations are being rolled out across the country.

Those affected by lockdowns are ready to reconnect with friends and family – celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, rescheduling weddings and corporate events, and hosting year-end get-togethers.

Partying safely may be hard to navigate in the current climate, so here is some guidance.

Unlike impromptu ‘scenes’ from back in the day, you need to give people plenty of notice before your event, as nothing is how it used to be. Giving people enough time to pencil in your event is imperative.

Have conversations with guests and vendors ahead of time to set expectations for a safe gathering. Confirm with your guests that if you provide catering such as grazing boards, buffets, finger foods, donut walls, chocolate fountains etc. your guests feel comfortable eating from them. You may need to opt for individual meals to meet your guests’ expectations.

Don’t be alarmed if your guests want to wear a mask. It’s entirely their prerogative, and you shouldn’t take offence that they are in your home and are still trying to maintain distance or keep their face covered.

Similarly, some guests may want to repeatedly wash their hands. Be a gracious host and keep multiple bottles of hand sanitiser within arm’s reach in different corners of your home so that people are never too far away from hand sanitiser.

10 KEY POINTS • Follow all Government health advice and restrictions. • Ensure all vendors have their COVID

Safety Plans as required by law. • Any staff you are hiring for your event for food or beverage service must have completed the AHA COVID 19 Hygiene

Course (mandatory for hospitality workers in WA only). • All staff serving alcohol must have their

Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate as required by law. • There is no evidence that handling or eating food spreads COVID, but it is always important to follow food safety practices. • Avoid crowds and indoor spaces that do not offer fresh air from the outdoors. If indoors, bring in fresh air by opening windows and doors, if possible. • Try to give hired staff space to work so they can maintain their social distance as much as possible. • Ask guests not to attend if they are sick or to go home if they attend whilst sick. • Encourage your friends and family to maintain social distancing at parties by limiting the number of guests invited to suit the space you have. • Keep a list of your invited guests and attendance to your event for at least two weeks after the event for track and trace purposes.

By Clint Gurney of Cosmic Cocktails & Events

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