Discussion: How can the WordPress Community return to hosting safe, in-person events?

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic this year, the Community Team announced that all in-person events would be online through the end of 2020, and that 2021 flagship events will be online only. All of this continues to be in effect, and the community continues to meet online only at this time. 

However, there has been promising news around some successful trials for vaccines recently! As such, it seems worthwhile to discuss how the WordPress community can return to hosting safe, in-person events. 

Any in-person event would certainly be subject to local laws and any restrictions on gatherings, as they’ve always been. Beyond what local health authorities require, the Global Community TeamGlobal Community Team A group of community organizers and contributors who collaborate on local events about WordPress — monthly WordPress meetups and/or annual conferences called WordCamps. may need to to help organizers identify what additional precautions are necessary to ensure in-person events are safe for participants. Some examples might include:

  • Mandatory masks
  • Proper social distancing practices
  • Preference for outdoor events
  • Limits on number of attendees
  • Recommending a lower percentage for venue capacity (for example, suggesting a cap of 50% of a venue’s total capacity)
  • Providing hand sanitizer at events
  • Restrictions on the length of events
  • Not providing food or drinks at events
  • Mandatory registration, so attendees can be contacted in case of exposure 
  • If there is a rise in the number of COVID cases in your area, reverting back to online events

Please share your thoughts

Please respond in the comments with your thoughts by December 16, 2020. What would the safest, in-person WordPress event look like? What do you think the WordPress Community Team can do to best support local organizers in creating safe in-person WordPress events? 

Regardless of this discussion or any subsequent decision regarding the return of in-person events, the Community Team will continue to support online events in 2021 and beyond. Thanks to our amazing community organizers for all you’ve done to help WordPress enthusiasts connect in this difficult time!