May 17, 2021

How to Celebrate Your Grad in a COVID-Friendly Way

Keep all your guests safe this summer

A young graduate smiles while taking a selfie next to their parents.

The class of 2021 is wrapping up a momentous occasion: graduation. And such an occasion after this past year deserves a celebration like no other! With more and more people vaccinated against COVID-19, you might be ready to party like never before. But how do you celebrate this rite of passage responsibly during a global pandemic? And is it OK to gather to celebrate your senior?

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

We asked infectious disease specialist Kristin Englund, MD, about the biggest things to consider as we head into graduation season, and how to have (or attend) graduations and grad parties safely.

Take it outside

“One of the most important ways to keep yourself protected when you’re going to or hosting a graduation party is to get yourself vaccinated,” she says. “Make sure you’ve afforded yourself the best protection so you can have the most fun when you’re helping your family and loved ones celebrate.”

But with only 58.9% of the U.S. population fully vaccinated, a good number of the people you know probably still haven’t received their vaccination against COVID-19 for any number of reasons. So how can you attend or host a graduation event or party while remaining mindful of the ever-changing guidelines for keeping everyone safe?

Dr. Englund said it’s important to consider having a venue outside.

“We know that if you’re having a party that is outdoors, especially for a small number of people, that’s going to be the best way to try to keep those who are unvaccinated safe.”

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) just updated its guidelines regarding masking up in public settings, and Dr. Englund says according to the new guidelines, if you’ve been vaccinated it’s OK to ditch the mask. Be mindful to note local and state mandates, as those rules still apply.

Advertisement

But if it’s an indoor event and you’re not vaccinated, you should wear a mask. “An indoor party means those who are unvaccinated need to wear masks indoors.”

Tips for planning a safe event

If you’ve been tapped to plan a grad party, Dr. Englund has some helpful tips to make it a fun — and safe — event:

  • Communicate expectations upfront. If you’re having an indoor party, let people know ahead of time that they need to bring masks. If you’re providing them, let your guests know this on your invitations and have them available at the entrance of your event. That way there’s not an uncomfortable conversation as your guests arrive. Dr. Englund recommends having fun with it: “As people are walking into the party, make your masks a fun little party gift, something that they can take home to remember the event.”
  • Get creative with space. If you’re having an indoor or outdoor event, assess your space. If things feel cramped, where your guests can’t safely maintain social distancing guidelines, expand tables and chairs. Consider renting extra tables to ensure all guests can maintain a safe distance.
  • Space out arrival times. To prevent your guests from congregating at the entrance of your event, consider a fluid start time for your event. You might even consider staggering arrival times on your invitations so your guests arrive in waves rather than all at once.

What if you’ve been invited to a grad party?

If you’ve been invited to a graduation party but are unsure of the details regarding the type of venue the party will be in, Dr. Englund recommends asking the host ahead of time. “Questions like, ‘is the party going to be indoors or outdoors?’ and ‘Are people expected to be vaccinated before the party?’ are important questions to ask to make sure you know what kind of environment you’re going to be stepping into,” she says.

Dr. Englund says if you’ve not yet been vaccinated, and you’re someone who’s at risk for getting severe infection from COVID-19, you might want to consider foregoing grad parties this year. “It’s important to keep yourself safe so you can attend future celebrations,” she says.

She says it’s also important to know the status of COVID-19 statistics in your community or the community of the party you’ll be attending. “If there’s a lot of COVID-19 around, it’s probably not a good time for people to be gathering, especially indoors,” she says.

Special considerations for vulnerable populations

Grandma and grandpa are super excited to attend your grad’s celebration! They’ve been vaccinated, and are eager to mingle. But should you take any special precautions with some of the most vulnerable in your guest list?

Advertisement

Dr. Englund says consider inviting these most vulnerable members of your family to a separate party or event — say, a little bit before, or after the party has ended for others — so there’s less mingling among vaccinated and unvaccinated guests. You could also seat older guests at their own table, taking care to provide six feet of spacing as recommended by the CDC.

Key takeaway? Celebrate your grad — safely

There are many reasons to get vaccinated against COVID-19, and this upcoming grad season might be a key reason to consider vaccination. While the numbers of COVID-19 cases continue to recede, we’re not out of the woods just yet.

“If you’re vaccinated, you can get closer to those around you, you’re able to not wear a mask, especially in an outdoor venue in a small gathering. So there’s a whole lot of benefits to being able to celebrate this party season by getting vaccinated.”

The key thing, Dr. Englund says, is to get vaccinated and know the vaccination status of the people you’ve invited to your party. And if you’re hosting an event, make sure you’re setting up the party so that it’s safest for everyone. With kids ages 12 to 15 now able to get vaccinated, younger siblings can safely participate in the festivities too.

“COVID-19 is not gone, and it’s something we need to continue to take very seriously. We want to celebrate — but let’s all do it safely.”

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

aerial view over crowd of commuters
March 18, 2024
How Does COVID Immunity Work?

The short answer: It’s complicated, but the basic care precautions still prevail, like washing your hands and isolating if you’re sick

Person experiencing COVID headache, with calendar months floating in background
March 11, 2024
What To Know About COVID Headaches

They can feel like a typical headache or a migraine headache, but the pain can last for weeks to months

crowd of people at music concert
February 5, 2024
What Constitutes a ‘Superspreader Event’?

Any large social gathering — from a family birthday party to an indoor music concert — has the potential to spread serious infection

Female wrapped in blanket laying on sofa looking fatigued or unwell
January 23, 2024
How To Manage COVID Fatigue and Regain Your Energy

It’s important to connect with a healthcare provider, get quality sleep and balance your activities with your energy levels

Sick person on couch using tissue on nose with medication bottles on coffee table
January 19, 2024
How To Know if It’s COVID-19, a Cold or Allergies

Symptoms can overlap and be hard to distinguish, but there are some telltale differences

Close-up of hands in lab gloves sorting vials and covid-19 blood sample
January 17, 2024
Everything You Need To Know About COVID-19 Variants

Just like the flu, COVID-19 will continue to evolve every year

Adult female on couch, coughing into crook of arm, holding thermometer
January 15, 2024
Prepping for Flurona: When COVID-19 and the Flu Strike at the Same Time

It’s best to treat flu-like symptoms as if you have COVID-19

positive COVID test with COVID virus molecules floating around it
December 20, 2023
How Long Does COVID-19 Last if You’re Vaccinated?

The duration varies, but symptoms can linger for a few days up to a couple weeks or more

Trending Topics

Person in yellow tshirt and blue jeans relaxing on green couch in living room reading texts on their phone.
Here’s How Many Calories You Naturally Burn in a Day

Your metabolism may torch 1,300 to 2,000 calories daily with no activity

person getting a sinus massage between brows
5 Sinus Massage Techniques To Relieve Pressure and Promote Drainage

A gentle touch in all the right places may help drain your sinuses

woman snacking on raisins and nuts
52 Foods High In Iron

Pump up your iron intake with foods like tuna, tofu and turkey

Ad