ChoralArt COVID Health and Safety Protocols for 2023-2024 Season   (Effective 9-7-23)

The following protocols have been established for ChoralArt’s 2023-2024 Season. Many of the former  mitigation strategies have become optional. Participants are still required to self-assess regarding  symptoms and recent exposures prior to rehearsals and performances, to stay home if they have any,  and to report them to the reporting officers. The protocols are subject to change in accordance with  changing conditions and CDC guidance. The protocols apply to all singers, conductors, pianists, orchestra  members, production staff, and volunteers (referred to as “participants” in the protocols).

Mitigation Strategies

(1) Vaccination

Vaccinations and boosters are encouraged but not required.

(2) Masking and Testing

Masking is optional, and there is no requirement for testing prior to rehearsals or performances.

(3) Self-Assessment

Participants are asked to self-assess regarding symptoms and recent exposures prior to  rehearsals and performances and to stay home if they have any symptoms or recent exposures:

Symptoms:

In the last 10 days, have you experienced any of the symptoms listed below that you consider  new or different from your baseline state of health?

 Sore throat

 Congestion or runny nose

 Headache

 Fever or feeling feverish (such as chills, sweating)

 Cough

 Mild or moderate difficulty breathing

 Muscle aches or body aches

 Unusual fatigue

 Loss of taste or smell

 Nausea or vomiting

 Diarrhea

COVID-19 Exposure:

 In the past 10 days, have you been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19?   In the past ten days, have you been tested for COVID-19?

 Have you recently traveled to an area where the CDC recommends COVID

19 screening upon return?

If you respond “yes” to ANY of the above, please contact the Safety Officer PRIOR to attending  any ChoralArt function.

(4) Sign-Ins Before Rehearsals & Performances

A self-assessment questionnaire regarding symptoms and recent exposures will be set out at the  entrance to the rehearsals and performances. Each participant will be asked to sign in at  rehearsals and performances verifying their self-assessment. The sign-ins will be used for  contact tracing if needed.

(5) COVID Safety Officer

There will be a Safety Officer or designee at rehearsals and performances to help ensure that  protocols are being effectively followed.

The Safety Officer is:

Sarah Bailey (snbailey78@gmail.com, C: 207-890-4591)

 If you have questions or concerns about how things are going or being done, please direct those  comments to the Safety Officer. They will be raised to the Health and Safety Committee level as  needed.

COVID Case Response Plan

CDC guidelines are available for contact tracing and isolation after COVID illness (cdc.gov). In general,  these will be adopted with a few changes deemed necessary.

The following communication plan will be used whenever a participant has concerns about close  contacts, symptoms, or a positive COVID test:

(1) Communication

The participant should contact the Safety Officer directly to discuss any close contacts,  symptoms, or testing concerns/results around COVID. The Safety Officer will elevate discussion  to the Health and Safety Committee members as required.

To maintain confidentiality and consistency, any future communication should occur only  between the participant and Reporting Officer.

(2) Contact Tracing

If contact tracing is necessary, that will occur between the Reporting Officer and the close  contacts, maintaining as much confidentiality as possible. Close contacts will be identified by  the affected participant and the Safety Officer.

As a reminder, the U.S. CDC definition of a close contact is as follows:

 Someone who was less than 6 feet away from infected person, for a cumulative total of  15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period. An infected person can spread COVID  starting from 2 days before they have any symptoms (or, for asymptomatic people, 2  days before the positive specimen collection date).

Close contacts will receive information about when the contact occurred and how to proceed  with quarantine and testing. Any positive test should be reviewed by the participant and their  health care provider. Confidentiality will be maintained as required by state and federal law.

The information provided to close contacts will include the following:

 An individual tested positive on ______ (date).

 Their infectious period was from ______ (date) to ______ (date).

 The individual was present at rehearsal/performance on ________.

 Further instructions will be provided for contact tracing.

A general statement will be sent out to those in attendance at a rehearsal or performance that  an individual has been diagnosed with COVID and contact tracing is underway.

If testing is recommended and you are unable to obtain a test, due to availability or cost  concerns, please contact the Safety Officer.

(3) Return for Participants in Contact Tracing Program

A partial return to rehearsal for close contacts can occur immediately but the participant should  sit away from others and continue to wear a mask. The participant may return to full  participation after a negative test on day 5. If the participant develops symptoms, they should  get a test and stay home.

(4) Return for Participants with COVID and No Paxlovid Treatment

A partial return to rehearsal (defined as sitting away from others) can occur between days 5 and  10 after a COVID infection. Returning to full participation can occur after day 10. If the  participant has a fever, they should continue to stay home until their fever resolves for at least  24 hours.

Return for Participants with COVID Receiving Paxlovid Treatment

Because there is a possibility of rebound infection occurring 3-8 days following completion of  Paxlovid treatment, the participant has 2 options:

1. Refrain from all rehearsals until after the 8^th day following a 5-day course of treatment, then have a negative rapid test 1-2 hours before return to full participation. This option requires less testing but would require the participant to be absent for a longer period of  time.

OR

2. Have a partial return between days 5 and 10 after initial symptoms but must have a negative rapid test 1-2 hours before rehearsal; A full return may occur after day 10 but the participant must have a negative rapid test 1-2 hours before rehearsal.

ChoralArt COVID Health and Safety Committee Members:

Ann Elderkin, Chair

Sarah Bailey

Red Sullivan

Robert Stoddard