California Music Educators Association (CMEA) is a Federated unit of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). Membership is open to all music educators working in public and private schools, colleges, and universities in California.
On March 22, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) updated their guidelines regarding Performing Arts activities.
- Previously, the guidelines stated that such activities were “highly discouraged” and only allowed in very specific circumstances.
- Updated March 22, 2021 to clarify that band, drumline, choir and drama are low-contact activities
- Dance already on low-contact activities list
- Cheerleading from our understanding includes Color Guard and Drill Team
Low-Contact Sports - Individual or small group sports where contact within six feet of other participants can be avoided. Some of these sports have relatively low exertion rates that allow for consistent wearing of face coverings when within six feet of other people.
- Outdoor low-contact sports allowed in Purple Tier, so all counties in California
- Indoor low-contact sports allowed in Orange Tier 1-3.9/100k
- 9 Counties already in Orange and 2 in lower Yellow
- Many counties like San Bernardino will be Orange next Month in April
CDPH Outdoor and Indoor Youth and Recreational Activities: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/outdoor-indoor-recreational-sports.aspx
CDC & Performing Arts Activities - March 18, 2021
With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announcement of reduced physical distancing on March 19, 2021 many questions have been asked about whether performing arts activities can be also have reduced physical distancing. We applaud the CDC on removing the requirement for plexiglass barriers. The CDC’s new distancing recommendation only focuses on seated classrooms. With the rapid spread of more aggressive variants such as the B.117 variant, health officials do not recommend a change in physical distancing for activities that have increased exhalation.
However, with further research in the aerosol study being completed the following are the recommendations for performing arts activities:
- Bell covers for woodwinds and brass should be made with a multi-layer cover with the center layer being made of MERV-13 filter material, or a 3-layer surgical style mask using an ASTM F2100 or GB/T32610 standard.
- Singers produce aerosol at similar rates as woodwinds and brass. The amount of aerosol varies depending on consonants, vowels, intensity, and pitch. Singers wearing a well fit 3-layer surgical style mask that meets the ASTM F2100 or GB/T32610 standard reduces aerosol emission.
- Face shields are only effective at close range to stop large droplets; they do not prevent aerosol from being inhaled or released unless a mask is also worn.
- Reduced time in performing arts activities:
- Indoors: 30-minute restriction followed by a minimum of one(1) air exchange
- Outdoors: 60-minute restriction followed by a five(5) minute break (New3/19/21)
- Practice good hygiene by washing hands, using sanitizers, and preventing uncontrolled spit valve release.
- Rehearsal space recommendations in order of preference:
- Outdoor rehearsals using individual mitigation techniques described above,
- Indoors with elevated outdoor air exchange rate from HVAC,
- Indoors with typical outdoor air exchange rate from HVAC plus recirculation air through MERV 13 filters or addition of appropriately sized HEPA air cleaners,
- Indoors with outdoor air exchange rate from open windows supplemented with appropriately sized HEPA air cleaners when air flow is reduced under certain outdoor wind conditions.
Source: https://calmusiced.com/2021/03/22/update-cdc-performing-arts-activities/
More information on aerosol in Performing Arts activities