New guidance has been disseminated by the California Department of Public Health, which indicates the most comprehensive guidance for "performing groups" so far. While it is the most comprehensive, in my opinion, I would like to also make sure you understand that much of this is left up to interpretation.
We must remember that these are recommendations that all districts have received and they must interpret the guidance with help from individual county departments of health and county departments of education. You will need to check with your individual sites as to what will be allowed at your particular site within your district.
Below I have underlined the passages of interest and bolded my interpretation of the guidance. Again this is an interpretation of the guidance and the first time that the word "performing" has appeared in this document.
Section 16, School-Based Extracurricular Activities, has been updated.
16. School-Based Extracurricular Activities
The requirements and recommendations in this guidance apply to all extracurricular activities that are operated or supervised by schools, and all activities that occur on a school site, whether or not they occur during school hours, including, but not limited to, sports, band, chorus, and clubs.
Activities may be performed outdoors without masks. Indoor mask use remains a critical layer in protecting against COVID-19 infection and transmission, including during sports, music, and related activities. Accordingly:
- Masks are required indoors at all times for teachers, referees, officials, coaches, and other support staff.
- Masks are required indoors for all spectators and observers.
- Masks are required indoors at all times when participants are not actively practicing, conditioning, competing, or performing. Masks are also required indoors while on the sidelines, in team meetings, and within locker rooms and weight rooms.
Bullet point 3 above indicates that masks are required when indoors except when "performing", but also states as we move to bullet point 4 that masks should be worn everywhere else when not performing. This includes backstage areas etc. This also means that performers on stage can be unmasked but everyone else including audience, director, backstage crews etc must be masked (Bullet points 1 and 2)
- When actively practicing, conditioning, or competing in indoor sports, masks are required by participants even during heavy exertion, as practicable. If masks are not worn due to heavy exertion, it is strongly recommended that individuals undergo screening testing at least once weekly. An FDA-approved antigen test, PCR test, or pooled PCR test is acceptable for evaluation of an individual's COVID-19 status.
Bullet point 4 indicates that if masks are not worn indoors testing/screening should occur weekly. You cannot unmask without testing. Some districts are allowing vaccinated student athletes to submit vaccination records to bypass testing but this is district by district but can be applicable to performing arts students.
- Individuals using instruments indoors that cannot be played with a mask (e.g., wind instruments) may perform if bell coverings are used when playing wind instruments AND a minimum of 3 feet of physical distancing is maintained between participants. Modified masking may be considered in addition to, but not in place of, bell covers. If bell covers are not used, it is strongly recommended that individuals undergo screening testing at least once weekly. An FDA-approved antigen test, PCR test, or pooled PCR test is acceptable for evaluation of an individual's COVID-19 status.
Bullet point 5 specifically references instrumental music which is of interest to us as we head into Spring Musical season.
To read the entire document click below (#16 is the guidance for extra-curricular):
While I am not an expert from the CDPH, I can try to answer any questions you have. Please let me know if you have any.
Michael J. Despars
President, California Educational Theatre Association
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Michael Despars
Theatre Educator
Fullerton Union High School
CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 12-01-2021 13:14
From: Joseph D'Aquino
Subject: California indoor performance restrictions versus indoor sports restrictions
Our District (in Orange County, CA) sent out the revised guidelines for indoor sports and performances protocols, and I was more than angry to sports such as wrestling, basketball, volleyball and cheer get a pass on wearing masks at indoor competitions as long as the players tested negative during the week of games while performing arts are to be masked while performing regardless of testing negative. I was told that this is following the State guidelines for performing arts not a District developed policy. Where's the equity? Are my audiences really more at risk from singing and speaking students (who have tested negative to covid) in a theater with masked audiences and socially distanced seating than (mostly) maskless fans at a basketball or volleyball game where the air if often humid from the sweat and running and limited ventilation?
Are EdTA and CETA at the table and providing input into the State of California's Performing Arts policies for performing in a covid world? Because the athletic federations most definitely are and I don't see concrete results that protect AND benefit our programs coming from the State, Counties or Districts. What I am seeing is the power of might makes right, and that is a very concerning position to be in as educators.
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Joseph D'Aquino
Newport Harbor High School
Theater Department Program Director
Newport Beach, CA
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