Planning a Memorial Day Event? Here's How, According to CDC

The recommendations for COVID-19 safety have been changing so frequently, it can be hard to keep up. By now, most everyone has heard the CDC’s latest guidelines regarding mask wearing: If you’re fully vaccinated, masks are no longer required in numerous situations. As of May 13, the CDC announced that those who are fully vaccinated (defined as 14 days after a second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or 14 days after taking the Johnson & Johnson shot) should be able to participate in many common activities without a mask. With the big summer kickoff weekend coming, this announcement couldn’t come at a better time for many people. 

So, what should you consider if you’re hosting a gathering this Memorial Day weekend? Here are some possible scenarios and the CDC-recommended ways to handle them. 

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Great news: You’re good to go! For small, outdoor gatherings, masks are considered optional if everyone has been covered by vaccination. 

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So you’re planning to hold a small, outdoor gathering with fully vaccinated family and friends, with a caveat — one person who is low-risk is there, but isn’t vaccinated. The CDC says it is still okay to go maskless in this type of scenario.

Even if it’s a small, outdoor gathering, if there are fully vaccinated and unvaccinated people mixing, you should wear a mask if you aren’t vaccinated. This goes for unvaccinated children, too.

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There are a couple scenarios here. Whether the restaurant is indoors or outdoors with friends from multiple households, the main question is, are you all vaxxed? Then feel free to go maskless (where permitted by state and local ordinances and the specific restaurant's guidelines). But if your party includes a mix of vaccinated and unvaccinated, those who aren’t vaccinated should still wear a mask both in and outdoors when not eating. Safest would be for the unvaccinated to skip the indoor dining completely. 

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The CDC recommends that unvaccinated people who want to attend a crowded outdoor event, like a live performance, parade, or sports event, should wear a mask, even if they are low-risk. Again, fully vaccinated people can attend maskless.

If you’ve been fully vaccinated, you can gather in a home or private space without a mask as long as everyone is vaccinated. If one household is attending where there are unvaccinated people who aren’t at risk for severe illness, the CDC says you may also be unmasked. Beyond that, anyone who isn’t vaccinated should be masked — or skip the indoor event if it’s a large gathering. 

Since traveling may increase your chance of getting and spreading COVID-19, the CDC advises delaying travel until you are able to get fully vaccinated. But if you do decide to travel, know the rules. Most public transportation will continue to require masks while traveling. Be sure to check all travel requirements before you leave for your destination. 

Make sure your guests know where you stand on Covid. It’s recommended by the CDC that guests stay home if they are exhibiting symptoms of illness, or if they have had contact with someone Covid positive, whether the guest is vaccinated or not. As host, you should also keep track of party attendees, should the need for contact tracing arise. 

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When thinking of fun activities for adults and kids, the CDC recommends planning activities where social distancing can be maintained, such as a game of Frisbee; it’s also recommended to avoid close contact when greeting guests, and avoid shaking hands or hugging. Elbow bumps, waving, and enthusiastic greetings still work!  

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COVID or no COVID, clean hands at a gathering are never a bad thing. Keep soap and hand sanitizer readily available for guests (don’t forget that it should contain at least 60 percent alcohol to be effective at killing germs and viruses) and offer disposable paper towels for guests to dry their hands on instead of a towel. 

The expression “too many cooks in the kitchen” definitely applies to the COVID-19 era. Don’t hang out with everyone in the kitchen, and keep some space around the grill. You may want to consider having one person in the role of designated server so too many people don't have to touch utensils. 

Put out touchless garbage cans for the party, and consider cleaning “high-touch” surfaces, such as doorknobs, countertops, and tables frequently throughout the event.

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