Celebrating this occasion has been a tradition for over five hundred years. Only, this year, we have a party pooper by the name of COVID.
It’s coming!
On time.
Are you prepared?
Image courtesy Pexels.
Seems a weird image to celebrate? Don't worry, all will be revealed!
Might a celebration be in order?
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Well, that is customary among those who follow this tradition.
It’s been that way ever since the 1500’s.
It’s been in vogue ever since the 1500’s?
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As we shall see later on, this tradition has existed in one form or another for almost two thousand years.
Initially, it used to be an occasion marking the transition into a new year. Over time, it evolved into the season we know it to be.
Who doesn’t love a good celebration?
Gif courtesy giphy.
A time for everybody to come together.
Switch off those work emails; mute, or disregard those ‘push notifications’ from social media; and engage with your near and dear ones.
Do all those things you’ve been raring to do all year, but somehow never quite got the chance to do.
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Addressing the virus in the room
Looks like the Death Star; only it's much more sinister. Gif courtesy giphy.
I bet the mere mention of ‘virus’ tends to get your veins popping, and your teeth gnashing.
However much we hate it, and wish it would just go away, it’s not gonna do that.
We’re just gonna have to deal with it.
Let's show covid who's boss! Gif courtesy giphy.
Having a COVIDSafer celebration
There are a few steps you can take to make this occasion COVIDSafer.
Wear a mask
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As the CDC puts it, your mask may protect your friends, while your friends’ mask protects you.
When you wear a mask, you’re doing your bit to stop the virus from spreading in the community.
That’s very much in the spirit of coming together with friends and family members, and looking out for each other; the spirit of the celebration we keep talking about.
Keep a safe distance
Maintain your distance! Gif courtesy giphy.
Like I’ve been saying, this is an awesome chance for friends and family members to come together and bond.
But it’s CRITICAL that when you leave the house, your group maintains a physical distance of 2 arms’ length from other people.
This can stop the virus from spreading between groups.
Wash your hands frequently
Even that guy knows how important hand washing is! Gif courtesy giphy.
COVID can spread by touch.
You touch a public surface that’s infected - like the door handle of a cab - and then touch your face...you could end up getting the infection yourself.
That’s why it’s important to keep washing your hands frequently, with soap or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, since that can kill the virus.
How practical are these precautions while you’re out?
You’ll be walking through the streets, occasionally greeting people, and stopping for the odd selfie.
There’s no running or other kind of physical activity involved, which rules out mask wearing becoming very uncomfortable.
You can always carry your own hand sanitizer (make sure it’s alcohol based), and scrub your hands whenever you feel like it.
And, maintaining a distance from other groups shouldn’t be a problem either.
Celebrating at an escape room
In some ways, an escape room gels very well with the overall sentiment of the event.
Getting locked inside a room, and having to investigate for clues as to how you can get out, is a perfect fit.
There’s also the fact of the escape room being themed for particular situations, like the team being trapped inside a serial killer’s lair.
Making your escape room experience COVIDSafer
Responsible entertainment centers like Fox in a Box have taken several precautions to make their experience COVIDSafer for patrons:
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Enforce public precautions like mask-wearing, hand washing, and a temperature check before entry.
Made gloves and sanitizer available to players who want them.
Private rooms and lobby to ensure different groups don’t come into contact with each other.
Rejigged our SOP to minimize contact with patrons.
Are you ready for the day?
Have you:
Listed out who’s coming?
Planned your activities?
Chalked out how you’re going to maintain COVID precautions?
If you still haven’t planned your activities, may I suggest including a fantasy-based adventure, which would pit you and your group against some pretty thorny situations (including averting a nuclear weapons launch, and stopping a zombie apocalypse) in your itinerary?
Image courtesy Pexels.
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