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Mission Peak Chamber Singers and East Bay Peoples Choir

COVID-19 Policies and Protocols
September 2021

To help all our members feel safe and stay healthy and to protect our families and communities, we have
adopted the following policies for our in-person rehearsals and other gatherings and events. They are
based on current CDC, state and county health guidelines and apply to both Mission Peak Chamber Singers
and East Bay Peoples Choir.

If you have any questions, concerns or comments on these policies, please don’t hesitate to contact
Artistic Director Ofer dal Lal at oferdallal@gmail.com.

MPCS and EBPC indoor rehearsals and events will be held in large enough spaces to allow for good
ventilation and social distancing, and doors and windows will be kept open.

All singers, musicians and other participants in our choirs must:

 Be fully vaccinated, and present proof of vaccination before attending or when arriving to attend your
first rehearsal. We’ll be setting up a system for doing this. By “fully vaccinated,” we mean that at least
two weeks have passed since you received either a single-shot vaccine or the second shot in a two-dose
series.
Proof of vaccination can be in the form of an original vaccination card or a paper or digital copy.
Since children under 12 can’t be vaccinated yet, they will not be allowed at rehearsals for the time
being. To carry out this policy, we will be creating a system for registering EBPC members and
recording their attendance, similar to the one we’ve been using for MPCS.

 Wear a mask at all times, regardless of your vaccination status, during rehearsals and other indoor
gatherings. Failure to follow this policy may result in your exclusion from future participation.

 Maintain a safe distance from other people at all times.

 Sign a Release from Liability form, which will be kept on file.

 Complete a self-assessment for COVID-19 symptoms (see page 2) and other risk factors before any
indoor rehearsal or gathering, regardless of whether you have been vaccinated.

 Stay home if you’re feeling sick or find out you’ve been exposed to covid.

 Promptly inform the choir director if you develop any covid symptoms or receive a positive covid test
result, so contact tracing can begin. Situations of possible exposure or illness will be handled according
to the public health guidelines in place at that time.
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COVID-19 Health Assessment Policy

Everyone should conduct the following self-assessment, regardless of their vaccine status, before
attending any MPCS or EBPC rehearsal, event or gathering:

 Immediately prior to the event, is your temperature above 100.4 degrees?

 Have you had any signs or symptoms of fever in the past 24 hours such as chills, sweats, a feverish
feeling or an elevated temperature?

 Do you have any of the following symptoms?

o Cough
o Shortness of breath/chest tightness/difficulty breathing
o Fatigue
o Muscle or body aches
o Headache
o Sore throat
o Nasal congestion/runny nose
o New loss of taste and/or smell
o Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
o Fever/chills/sweats

 Within the last 14 days, have you been in contact with anyone with a confirmed COVID-19?

If your answer to any of the above questions is yes, please do not attend the rehearsal or gathering.

Guidelines for Face Mask Use

Everyone must wear a face mask at all times during rehearsals and other indoor gatherings.

Masks protect you best when they are handled, worn, stored and disposed of properly. Even when you’re
wearing a mask, it’s recommended that you stay at least 6 feet away from others. Masks should have at
least two layers of protection, fit snugly and cover your nose, mouth and chin at all times.

The CDC has issued guidelines for improving how your mask protects you. They can be found at
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/effective-masks.html.

In general:

 Add layers of material: Choose a cloth mask with multiple layers, and/or wear a cloth mask over a disposable
paper one.

 Make sure your mask fits snugly against your face.

 Make sure you can see and breathe easily.

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 Choose a mask with a nose wire so you can shape it closer to your face.

 Knot and tuck the ear loops of a disposable 3-ply mask for better fit and better protection. The CDC website
links to a video with instructions for how to do this; it’s easy and quick.

 Consider marking the outside of your mask in permanent ink, so you know which side is potentially
contaminated and should not be touched.

 Remove your mask completely when not using it. Don’t pull it below your chin or leave it dangling from one
ear, which creates opportunities for cross-contamination.

 Store your mask in a clean place when not in use.

REMEMBER — Wearing a mask is not a substitute for physical distancing, washing your hands
frequently and staying home when you’re sick. We need to do all of these things to keep each
other safe.