Updated May 9, 2022
Update
Coronavirus restrictions have been lifted and the policies below are no longer in effect.
What will choir be like this year?
Our program will look similar to the way it was before the pandemic. We will be rehearsing indoors, preparing for and presenting concerts, and finding ways to safely participate in the Eugene performing arts community.
Due to the spread of COVID-19 and rules from the Oregon Health Authority that we are required to follow, some things will look different this year.
Due to the spread of COVID-19 and rules from the Oregon Health Authority that we are required to follow, some things will look different this year.
What’s different?
- Check in - Please email your choir director to tell them who might be driving your choir member to rehearsal. We will list all of those names on our check-in form, just to be safe. Once a singer arrives, we will check them in and take note of the time of their arrival.
- Masks are required during rehearsals (state requirement). If this changes, we will notify parents. First United Methodist Church may require masking even after the state changes their rules.
- Social Distancing - While state mandates have been lifted on social distancing, we will maintain physical distancing as we feel is appropriate to keep our singers safe, or to follow the church’s rules.
- Parents and family are not allowed to wait inside the church during rehearsal. Parents should drop off their singer then return to pick them up at the end of the rehearsal.
- Singers and directors should exit the church as soon as rehearsal is over. This is so the church's cleaning crew has time to perform extra cleaning on the rehearsal space.
Also, according to the Oregon Health Authority
Any singer or staff member, regardless of vaccination status, is required to stay home if they exhibit COVID-19 symptoms including new loss of taste or smell, fever, new cough, or shortness of breath in the last 10 days.
Singers and staff are required to stay home from rehearsals for 10 days after onset of symptoms and 24 hours after both fever and cough resolve, without medication. If a COVID test is administered and comes back negative during the 10-day exclusion period, that person may return to our program as long as any fever or cough has subsided without medication.
Singers and staff are required to stay home from rehearsals for 10 days after onset of symptoms and 24 hours after both fever and cough resolve, without medication. If a COVID test is administered and comes back negative during the 10-day exclusion period, that person may return to our program as long as any fever or cough has subsided without medication.
One other difference during rehearsals...
Since we can’t control the rate air is exchanged in our rehearsal spaces at the church, we will be leaving the rehearsal area every 30 minutes to give the space a chance to air out. We’ll open doors to help the air exchange happen faster. We think this will help control the spread of COVID during our rehearsals. If outside doors to our rehearsal rooms are able to be opened during rehearsal, we may not need to leave the space every 30 minutes, at each director’s discretion.
The Oregon Health Authority asks us to encourage all of our staff, participants and their families to get fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
The Oregon Health Authority asks us to encourage all of our staff, participants and their families to get fully vaccinated for COVID-19.
What if there is an outbreak or a lockdown?
If there is an outbreak within one of our choirs, we will work closely with Lane County Health to adapt to the situation in the way we feel is safest and best for the ongoing operation of our program. We may temporarily move rehearsals outdoors or online, or cancel rehearsals if many of our singers fall ill. We’ve worked to make a plan for the safety of our singers, and we believe the steps we are taking will mitigate the risks of a COVID-19 outbreak during rehearsal.
If the state declares another lockdown, we will be required to adhere to any new policies for youth programs, gatherings, etc. We may be required to move our rehearsals online or outdoors. We will communicate any changes with families as quickly as possible to avoid an interruption in our weekly programs.
Thank you for helping us keep our singers and directors safe!
If the state declares another lockdown, we will be required to adhere to any new policies for youth programs, gatherings, etc. We may be required to move our rehearsals online or outdoors. We will communicate any changes with families as quickly as possible to avoid an interruption in our weekly programs.
Thank you for helping us keep our singers and directors safe!