In some areas, mass gatherings are restricted because people are dissociating themselves from each other, which is becoming the standard. Technology might allow some businesses to host events online. Some event organizers are already working on plans to do so.
This epidemic has already prompted prominent event cancellations, such as Cali’s annual spring Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and the national music awards of Canada (the Junos) -in the second case, at the very moment that certain artists were flying in. Coachella is scheduled to return in the autumn, but how this will impact those who had planned to go in April is yet to be determined.
With new guidelines appearing every day, large and small-scale cancellations of events have become increasingly frequent and impacting many more communities.
In an attempt to slow down the development of COVID-19 with ever-changing circumstances, events and travel are being delayed or delayed or canceled even in areas with no COVID-19 cases, a few instances, or no spread of the virus in the community.
This effort in order to “flatten the curve” is an effective plan for public health to stop its spread in order to limit it and allow for time to respond.
While this is important, however, it is important to think about what might be lost if events are canceled.
Social costs associated with cancellations
The financial impact of cancellations of events has been reported in the media. Yet, less focus has been given to the social cost. Events play a significant role in the community, and research has consistently revealed that attending festivals and other community events can have many advantages.
In a research study looking at the social effects of events, My colleagues and I found that participating in festivals can bring a feeling of emotional bond. When we come together and share experiences that are shared that we can build stronger communities that are more resilient.
In a recent episode on the Ten Percent Happier podcast, Sonja Lyubomirsky, who is a social psychologist, spoke about what it means to have a social connection to happiness. The work of Lyubomirsky suggests that regardless of whether we’re extroverted or introverted, the act of connecting with other people appears to improve our well-being.
Social interaction is a typical factor in the attendance of events and is believed to be a factor in the individual and social advantages. Additionally, we have observed that the feeling of belonging, which people cherish often, is what drives them to attend events to spend time with their family and friends as well as with their local community.