2022|23 Season COVID-19 Health and Safety
Last updated: October 12, 2022
Los Angeles Children’s Chorus is grateful to be returning to offering 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 as we navigate the 2022|23 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
All new choristers who will participate in in-person activities will be required to provide proof of primary series vaccination with an FDA-authorized vaccine. Proof of vaccination must be submitted by Saturday, September 10, 2022. Returning choristers, faculty, and staff who previously submitted proof of vaccination need not resubmit this documentation (unless they wish to provide proof of booster 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.
LACC will continue to consider requests on a case-by-case basis for religious and medical exemptions from the proof of vaccination requirement. Any person granted an exemption will need to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test each week before participating in in-person LACC activities (antigen test within 24 hours or PCR test within 48 hours).
Questions? Please contact Executive Director, J. Andrew Bradford, at abradford@lachildrenschorus.org.
SAFETY MEASURES
The following safety measures will be in place for all indoor activities this semester:
- Windows and doors of rooms in which ensemble activities take place will remain open while in use, where possible.
- Ensembles will continue to practice social distancing of at least 3 feet during rehearsals, where possible.
- 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
At this time, LACC encourages choristers, faculty, and staff to wear masks for indoor activities. Should community transmission levels increase, or if LA County returns to the High (Red) Community Level as defined by the CDC, LACC may reinstate an indoor masking requirement.
For self-produced concerts, all performers – including choristers and staff – will be required to present a negative test prior to the performance (antigen test within 24 hours or PCR test within 48 hours). Audiences will not need to present a negative test or proof of vaccination but will need to wear a mask at all times while indoors.
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 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.
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
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.
- Cough and sneeze into their sleeve or a tissue.
LACC also recommends that choristers test weekly on an ongoing basis. If weekly testing is not available at school, free tests can be ordered through the federal government (www.covidtests.gov). Additionally, choristers covered under a health insurance plan can get up to eight free tests per month.
Parents 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.
- Be able to pick up their chorister promptly from any in-person LACC activity if the chorister becomes unwell while in LACC’s care.