13, 14, 15 In their seminal investigation into the role of singing in the spread of tuberculosis, Loudon and Roberts showed that the percentage of airborne droplet nuclei generated by singing is six times more than that emitted during normal talking and approximately equivalent to that released by coughing. 12īreathing, speech, loud speech, singing, coughing, and sneezing, all expel airborne particles, more or less in the order listed from least particles shed to most. AerosolsĪerosols and their infectiousness remain widely discussed owing to the numerous factors involved, such as “the frequency of different respiratory activities, the number of particles produced per activity, and the pathogen load size distribution of different sized particles.” For example, pertaining to influenza, “the risk of acquiring influenza is determined by both the concentration of the Influenza A virus infectious particles (not their total amount) in the air and the immune status of the exposed individuals.” Questions of why some expelled particles carry pathogens and why some do not remain unanswered. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions, like heart or kidney disease or diabetes, seem at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness, and people in their 60s and older are generally at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Touching a surface or object that has SARS-CoV-2 on it and then touching the mouth, nose, or possibly eyes, may also transmit the disease. Information suggests that SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, i.e., the name of the virus), spreads more efficiently than influenza, but not as efficiently as more highly contagious diseases, such as measles. Some people without symptoms may carry the virus and contribute to spreading it. COVID-19 is thought to spread mainly through close proximity from person-to-person, including through airborne droplets and aerosols as a dominant route.
COVID-19ĭrawing from CDC Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources 2, 3, 4 and research findings 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 (including-owing to their timeliness-preprint/early release/awaiting peer review, as well as peer reviewed), a summary of today’s understanding about COVID-19 follows.Ĭoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19, i.e., the name of the disease) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus.
This risk assessment may help better equip each of those groups to make more informed decisions in the areas of Music & Theatre. Administrators and teachers must make their own decisions regarding risk mitigation for their specific situation, in accordance with the local school, school district, state, and national published guidelines by governing bodies.
Though not authored by a medical professional, findings represent the work of scientists and public health professionals as applied to the discipline of Music & Theatre out of deep care for the health and well-being of students and teachers. As such, this assessment has continued to receive updates. Residual unquantifiable risk, however, will always remain according to the ALARP (as low as reasonably practicable) principle.Īssessed risks have changed throughout the summer as new information emerges. In this way, by combining risk-reducing measures, we can lower the overall risk of infection as much as possible. 1 Two core beliefs underlie this work: (1) a belief that the greater the number of risk-reducing measures, the more the risk of infection can be reduced and (2) a belief that until we have more refereed research on the spread of airborne infection specific to music making and theatre productions, we must over- rather than underestimate the possible risks in case of doubt. This assessment applies the concept of risk management with the aim of identifying specific risks related to COVID-19 in the field of music and theatre and offering risk-reducing measures. This article was last updated on August 10, 2020, and will continue to be updated as more information is made available.