We want to ensure that everyone stays safe at all times, including at World MS Day celebrations!

MS organisations around the world have been working hard to limit the spread of COVID-19 and keep everyone protected. Each organisation will already be putting in place safety measures to keep their communities, staff and volunteers safe in accordance with national government restrictions. For anyone looking for additional advice, we suggest following the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, and precautions such as:

• Practising social distancing by keeping at least 1.5 metres distance between yourself and others, to reduce your risk of infection when they cough, sneeze or speak. This is particularly important when indoors but applies to being outdoors as well.

• Making wearing a mask a normal part of being around other people and ensuring that you are using it correctly by following these instructions.

• Avoiding going to crowded places, especially if indoors and the room is poorly ventilated. Where this is not possible, ensure to wear a mask and practise social distancing.

• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub (70% alcohol content is considered most effective).

• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth unless your hands are clean.

• When coughing and sneezing, covering your mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue.

• Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces frequently especially those which are regularly touched.

There are plenty of examples across the MS movement of how organisations have adapted activities to the current situation to ensure people are safe. Here are just a few examples of this:

• When lighting up landmark buildings, you could consider live-streaming the event so people can watch from home; ensure the people involved in the set-up have the appropriate protective equipment

• If you have a band who would normally play together, you could explore options for them to perform together online (singing together is a known way for the virus to spread so this would minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19)

• If previously you held a dance workshop in-person, you could have everyone join from home through a video conferencing platform