How to Keep Your Super Bowl Party Covid Conscious

Whether you watch for the game, the commercials, or the halftime show, the Super Bowl is an iconic American tradition, and it can still be a good time (and great food), even during these pandemic times. Read on for tips making sure your Super Bowl Sunday is as safe as possible and as memorable as ever.  

Of course, the safest way to gather is outdoors, with masks. This is easier for our friends who live in warmer climates, of course. Fortunately, knit mittens are currently en vogue and outdoor heaters are popping up everywhere. If you want to watch the big game with friends and you live somewhere with outdoor dining safely open, bundle up, pack a spare mask, and head over to a sports bar or a restaurant with reliable wings and big screen TVs. 

  • If you are plan to stay home, and are determined to watch the game indoors with a people outside your household, it’s best to keep that group small, and ideal for all invitees to get a Covid test before getting together inside.  
  • When possible, host your gathering outdoors. If this is not feasible, make sure the room or space is well-ventilated (for example, open a window).  
  • And if you must host the big game indoors, the CDC has provided guidelines for how to safely do it:  

Above all, remind guests to stay home if they are sick, or have been around anyone who is sick or exhibiting symptoms of Covid-19. 

  • Keep a a guest list of who attended for potential future contact tracing needs. 

Encourage social distancing 

  • Arrange tables and chairs to allow for social distancing. People from the same household can be in groups together and don’t need to be 6 feet apart – just 6 feet away from other families. 
  • If planning activities for adults and/or kids, consider those where social distancing can be maintained, like sidewalk chalk art or frisbee. 
  • When guests arrive, minimize gestures that promote close contact. For example, don’t shake hands, do elbow bumps, or give hugs. Instead wave and verbally greet them. 

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Wear masks 

  • Consider providing masks for guests or asking them to bring their own.

 Clean hands often 

In addition to clearly marked hand washing areas, keep hand sanitizer or sanitizing hand wipes readily available. (Especially since a lot of Super Bowl food is finger food, the last thing you need is someone licking wings sauced fingers and then touching the communal remote) 

 

  • Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds when entering and exiting social gatherings. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. 
  • Make sure there is adequate soap or hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol available in the restrooms and encourage guests not to form a line at the door. Consider also providing cleaning supplies that allow guests to wipe down surfaces before they leave. 
  • Remind guests to wash their hands before serving or eating food. 
  • Use single-use hand towels or paper towels for drying hands so guests do not share a towel. 
  • Limit the number of people handling or serving food 
  • Encourage guests to bring their own food and drinks. 
  • Limit people going in and out of the areas where food is being prepared or handled, such as in the kitchen or around the grill, if possible. 
  • If serving any food, consider identifying one person to serve all food so that multiple people are not handling the serving utensils. 
  • Use single-use options or identify one person to serve sharable items, like salad dressings, food containers, and condiments, so that multiple people are not handling the items. 
  • Limit contact with commonly touched surfaces or shared items 
  • Use touchless garbage cans or pails. 
  • Use gloves when removing garbage bags or handling and disposing of trash. Wash hands after removing gloves. 
  • Clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces and any shared items between use when feasible. 

 

Cleanup: Before & After the Game  

Deep clean before guests arrive and after they leave. The CDC outlined useful instructions on how to properly clean and disinfect your home, summarized here: 

  • Wear disposable gloves to clean and disinfect and discard after use or use reusable gloves that are dedicated only for cleaning and disinfecting. Always wash hands after removing gloves. 
  • Clean any dirty surfaces using soap and water first, then use disinfectant. 
  • Clean or launder items according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds. 
  • Ensure proper ventilation during and after application (for example, open windows). 
  • Never mix household bleach (or any disinfectants) with any other cleaners or disinfectants. This can release vapors that may be very dangerous to breathe in. 

 

Stay safe. Enjoy the traditions. And have a spirited Super Bowl Sunday, with nachos and wings and pizza aplenty.  

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