So events organisers must be nimble and adapt quickly to what will – undoubtedly – be a rapidly changing situation.

But when we’re able to hold events again, what might they look like? And what measures can we take to give people the confidence to attend?

Here are some ideas about how events might work, post-coronavirus lockdown:

• Health monitoring or track and trace apps could help screen delegates and reduce the risk of the virus spreading
• Provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), hand sanitiser stations and enhanced cleaning regimes could increase event safety and visitor confidence
• A hybrid mix of live and virtual events could allow those who are able to travel to attend in person – and still give everyone else the chance to access the event online. This approach could also help organisers manage visitor numbers.
• Larger venues could make social distancing easier to achieve. Venues with plenty of space – indoors and out – are likely to be highly sought-after, so plan ahead if you have events to organise for later in 2020 and into 2021
• Smaller gatherings may also be an option, or attendance could be staggered over a number of days
• Managed visitor flow with clear signage and/or stewards showing people their one-way route through the event space could help avoid people meeting face-to-face
• Tighter schedules – no over-running allowed – to help keep people-flow on track, with plenty of time for room cleaning between segments
• New seating arrangements with fewer chairs around large tables and seats removed from theatres, allowing delegates to sit further apart
• A friendly smile could replace handshakes, hugs and kisses on the cheek – and become the only socially-acceptable greeting
• Adapted networking arrangements with seats placed an appropriate distance between them so people can meet and chat safely.

The immediate future of events is still uncertain. But there are glimmers of hope that in coming months – perhaps with these measures in place – some may be able to go ahead.

So we will meet again, just not quite in the same way as we did before.