Talking how to safely attend large gatherings with the U of M

After the recent lifting of the mask mandate in Minnesota and the new CDC recommendations stating that vaccinated individuals can resume post-pandemic life, many are asking whether it’s safe to gather in large crowds. To answer safety questions surrounding large events, Beth Thielen, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at the University of Minnesota, participated in an interview with the series “Talking with U of M”. 

In summary, Dr. Thielen says that safety in large crowded gatherings is a case-by-case basis. First and foremost, if you aren’t comfortable in the crowd, you are immunocompromised, have unvaccinated family members, or you are unvaccinated yourself, you should still consider wearing a mask and maintain social distance. Outside of those parameters, Dr. Thielen says it’s mainly up to your comfort level as government guidelines say it is alright to resume normal activities once fully vaccinated. Outdoor events, smaller gatherings with social distancing, or events where vaccines are encouraged for entry will be safer than the alternative crowded indoor events. Additionally, she says to plan ahead, looking at safety protocols, the vaccine distribution numbers, and the infection rate for the area in which the event you are attending is taking place. To read the full article on Dr. Thielen’s responses and more detailed information on how to make the safe decision in crowded gatherings, please visit this link.