2023|24 Season COVID-19 Health and Safety
Last updated July 27, 2023.
Los Angeles Children’s Chorus is grateful to be continuing to offer all activities, including rehearsals, musicianship classes, workshops, and concerts, in person this fall. While doing so, the health and well-being of our choristers, staff, and entire community will remain our top priority.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, so too will our responsive approach. We will continue to consult closely with the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) as we navigate the 2023|24 season, and will utilize multiple layers of COVID-19 risk mitigation in an effort to provide a safe, impactful, and fun in-person learning environment.
VACCINATION REQUIREMENT
Los Angeles Children’s Chorus does not require vaccination for our choristers to participate in rehearsals; however, we will continue to respect and follow the policies of each venue where performances take place. As such, there will be occasions where only vaccinated choristers will be able to perform live, per specific concert venue or performance organizer guidelines. These requirements and guidelines will be shared openly with our choristers and families ahead of each major concert and performance opportunity. Please check your rehearsal email for the most up-to-date policies for your singer regarding their upcoming performances.
In addition to the initial vaccination, LACC strongly encourages eligible choristers who have not yet received a booster shot to do so (learn more about booster eligibility). Some activities this season—including collaborative performances with presenters and LACC tours—will require participants to be fully up-to-date, as defined by the CDC, in order to participate.
SAFETY MEASURES
We ask that you continue to monitor symptoms at home and please keep your choristers at home if they are feeling unwell. When engaging in LACC activities, please be respectful of each other, maintain distance, wash hands, and practice good hygiene.
There are many ways to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses. Vaccination continues to be the most effective strategy to lower risk of hospitalization from COVID-19. LACC highly encourages vaccination against COVID-19 for the safety of our entire community, especially the most vulnerable.
LACC will continue to observe the following measures as practicable:
- Each room will be equipped with a HEPA air purifier.
- Hand sanitizer will be available at all in-person activities and events.
- Masks will be available at all in-person activities and events.
MASKING—OPTIONAL WITH SITUATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
Following state and local guidelines and in step with area schools, masks will now be optional for choristers and staff during LACC rehearsals and activities. Masks remain an effective way to slow the spread of COVID-19 and other airborne illnesses and are recommended when indoors and unable to distance. We will continue to monitor and consult with medical professionals in our community regarding COVID-19 and any other major health risk that may arise. Public health risk is in constant flux, and as such, our guidelines may adjust at any time for the safety of all in our community.
Should any public health order or venue policy require the wearing of masks by all, LACC will follow said order or policy.
Irrespective of the above, LACC will require choristers, faculty, and staff to wear a KF94, N95 or KN95 mask while participating in an in-person activity if they have:
- Tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 10 days but have since tested negative; or
- Been exposed to a confirmed positive case within the past 10 days.
CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-19
If a chorister, faculty, or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they should notify LACC immediately and stay home from in-person LACC activities. They may resume participating in in-person activities:
- On day 6 or later following the date of initial confirmed infection, with proof of a negative test taken on day 5 or later OR 10 days after date of initial confirmed infection with no test (date of positive test is day 0); and
- After being fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever reducing medication; and
- After other symptoms have improved.
Please reference the CDC’s recommendations for isolation for more guidance on what to do if you test positive for COVID-19.
EXPOSURE TO COVID-19
Any chorister, faculty, or staff member exposed to COVID-19 may continue to participate in in-person activities provided they remain asymptomatic and follow the masking policy noted above. Per CDC guidelines, LACC recommends asymptomatic persons exposed to COVID test, but wait to do so until day 5. Symptomatic persons should test immediately and wear a mask around others regardless of test results, while symptomatic.
Should LACC learn that a chorister, faculty, or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19 and was present for an in-person activity on or at any time during the 48 hours preceding the test date or symptom onset date (whichever is earlier), an exposure notification message will be sent to all applicable classes and ensembles and the PPHC will be informed.
SYMPTOMATIC
Choristers, faculty, or staff who exhibit any of the symptoms associated with COVID-19 must stay home and not participate in in-person activities, and may return to LACC:
- On day 6 or later with proof of a negative test on day 5 or later OR 10 days after first symptomatic with no test (first day of symptoms is day 0); and
- After being fever-free for 24 hours without taking fever reducing medication; and
- After other symptoms have improved.
Should a chorister present symptoms associated with COVID-19 while participating in an in-person activity, the chorister will be isolated from their ensemble or class and arrangements will be made with their parent/guardian to pick them up immediately.
Exceptions to this policy will be permitted in instances where symptoms are related to a known chronic medical condition.
Symptoms typical of the Omicron subvariants include: sore throat, hoarse voice, cough, fatigue, nasal congestion, runny nose, headache, and muscle ache.
EXPECTATIONS FOR CHORISTERS AND PARENTS/GUARDIANS
Choristers participating in in-person activities are expected to:
- Self-monitor their health prior to arriving;
- Not attend if feeling even mildly sick or exhibiting any symptoms of illness;
- Abide by safety guidelines for rehearsals and classes as set forth by LACC;
- Wash and/or sanitize hands frequently; and
- Cough and sneeze into their sleeve or a tissue.
Parents/Guardians are expected to:
- Notify a member of the LACC staff, in writing, if their chorister tests positive for COVID-19;
- Notify a member of the LACC staff, in writing, if their chorister is missing an in-person activity because they are feeling unwell, noting the symptoms being exhibited; and
- Be able to pick up their chorister promptly from any in-person LACC activity if the chorister becomes unwell while in LACC’s care.
Questions? Please contact LACC’s Executive Director.