I am going to a networking event, in light of the concerns with coronavirus, should I still shake hands with people I meet or not? If ‘no’, how should I greet people instead and how would you communicate?
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Here is what the experts suggest: The following are basic general principles for reducing the transmission of the COVID-19 virus, excerpted from the WHO document.
- Participants and staff should stay away from events when ill.
- Promote hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette, including with informational materials that reach a wide range of age groups and varying reading and educational levels.
- Soap and water or alcohol hand-sanitizers and tissues should be easily accessible in all common areas, and especially in areas set aside for medical treatment.
- Reduce crowding.
- Isolate persons who become ill.
- Where possible, event organizers should consider distancing measures to reduce close contact among people during a large event (e.g., increasing the frequency of transport and staggering arrivals and minimizing the number of people who congregate at one time at sanitary stations and food and water distribution areas).
- Organizers should plan for the likelihood of persons becoming ill with fever and other symptoms of COVID-19.
- As for myself, I would only attend an event that is necessary, until things are better. I would make little or no contact with people, such as shaking hands. I would stand at least 3 feet away in conversation and pass a card. let them know you will call them later.
Eddie Hill Consulting Group, LLC