There are many reasons we seek in-person connections, including family and life events, holiday parties, celebrations, social gatherings, work or volunteer group meetings, political organizing, and protests. Masking and other precautions are crucial to practicing community care by reducing the risk of COVID, influenza, RSV, and other aerosol-transmitted infectious diseases.

The act of planning safer in-person gatherings is one of solidarity, community care, and love. By implementing masking and multiple layers of protection before, during, and after the gathering, we keep ourselves and our communities as protected as possible from the continued spread of COVID. The more layers of protection you can use together, the more you can reduce the risk of transmission.