The following is intended as a plain-language summary of rules during the COVID-19 emergency and does not replace the need to follow all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Although we have begun to see case counts trending downward, we continue to combat COVID-19 in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has implemented targeted strategies to help balance quality of life and mitigation of spread as we head into fall/winter. This guidance is for outdoor performance events that exceed 1,000 unseated attendees.  Learn more about guidance for outdoor events focused on shopping, fairs, and festivals.

Events may be:

• Vaccinated only (attendees and staff) OR
• Masked at all times (attendees and staff)
  • with the exception of actively eating and drinking (while standing at a table of no more than four people or while seated).
  • OR
• Approved by submitting a plan which details prevention strategies you will use at your event to the Health Department.

Communicate:

• Once you’ve decided which type of event you will hold (fully vaccinated or masked at all times), be sure your event guidelines have been communicated to attendees and staff well in advance to give them time to prepare themselves and their families. Communication such as signage and announcements during the event will also help attendees to understand how to stay safe at your event.

Vaccinated – If you require that attendees and staff provide proof of vaccination:

• Determine whether you will check vaccination status when ticket is sold or upon entry to your event.
• If checking upon entry, determine how you will check vaccination status. Read more here about checking proof of vaccination.
• Remember that ALL staff and attendees must be vaccinated. Children too young to be vaccinated and people with medical and religious exemptions will be unable to attend the event.
• Ensure that staff and attendees are asked about vaccination in a respectful manner and consistent with applicable privacy laws and standards. Organizers must obey all applicable local, state, tribal, and territorial laws, regulations, and rules as they consider whether to confirm COVID-19 vaccination status.

Read more about the CDC’s guidance event planning and COVID-19 safety.

A word about HIPAA: HIPAA ensures a patient’s health information is properly protected while allowing the flow of health information. HIPAA applies only to covered entities (healthcare providers, healthcare plans) that conduct or engage in certain electronic transactions. Most event organizers would not fall into the category of a covered entity as defined under the statute and so HIPAA would not apply to most event organizers attempting to verify an individual’s vaccination status.  Read more guidance from the CDC about HIPAA. If you have questions potentially applicable privacy laws to vaccination verification activities should consult with legal counsel prior to taking such actions.

Masked – If your event will not be vaccination-only:

Attendees and staff must be masked at all times while at the event, except while actively eating and drinking in seats or at standing tables with no more than four persons. Attendees who are unseated may not eat/drink:

• While actively eating and drinking in seats or at standing tables with no more than four persons.
• Attendees who are unseated may not eat/drink.
  • Create a plan about how you will ensure masking during the event.
  • Consider having masks on hand to distribute to attendees who do not have a mask upon entry or whose mask has gotten lost or damaged.
  • Create prominent signage to remind attendees to remained masked unless actively eating or drinking while seated.
  • Consider utilizing staff to remind patrons to mask if not actively eating or drinking. Train staff to remind patrons in a respectful manner. Read more tips for asking patrons to mask (PDF).

Read CDC’s masking tips.

All individuals who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including children under the age of 12, should use prevention strategies, such as wearing masks, physical distancing, hand hygiene, and respiratory etiquette. Event organizers can decide which multi layered prevention strategies to use in addition to the masking requirement.

Key prevention strategies for staff and attendees:

• Promote vaccination against COVID-19.
• Promote vaccination events in Philadelphia.
• Encourage physical distancing, especially for those who are unvaccinated.
• Encourage staff and attendees to stay home if they are sick or have any symptoms of COVID-19, and to get tested for COVID-19. If an employee develops COVID-19 infection or has a positive test, businesses and other organizations must take additional precautions to stop the virus from spreading further. Refer to the Heath Department’s workplace guidance for more information.
• Tell staff and attendees, regardless of vaccine status, who have been in close contact with someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19 to quarantine and get tested for COVID-19.
• Ask all attendees to screen themselves for symptoms before entering the facility.
• It is not necessary to conduct onsite temperature measurements. If you measure temperatures, use a no-touch thermometer, and do not allow anyone with a temperature of 100.4 or higher to remain onsite.
• Conduct contact tracing, in combination with isolation and quarantine for staff or attendees who show symptoms of COVID-19. These steps should be taken in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including those relating to privacy, and in collaboration with state, tribal, local, and territorial health departments.

The CDC does not recommend on-site testing of all attendees and staff for COVID-19 before they can enter an event. Read more about CDC’s recommendations on on-site testing.

Key prevention strategies for facilities, including arrangement/construction of event space:

• Conduct routine cleaning to help maintain healthy facilities.
• Prevent crowding at events, for example, by modifying layouts or installing physical barriers or guides to support physical distancing, where appropriate.
• Consider creating seated areas where attendees may eat and/or drink while unmasked.
• Consider how you will position restaurants, food trucks, or food stands to prevent crowding and/or long lines.
• Use sidewalk decals or signs to help attendees keep their distance.

Using signage:

• Post prominent signs at the event site:
  • Asking people who are sick or who have had contact with someone with COVID-19 within the past 10 days not to enter.
  • Encouraging people to cover coughs or sneezes.

See also:

• Restaurants and mobile food vendors, catering, weddings, celebrations guidance
• Retail and indoor mall guidance

• Text COVIDPHL to 888-777 to receive updates to your phone.
• Call (800) 722-7112 to speak to a health care professional on the Greater Philadelphia Coronavirus Helpline.