[Choir] Important question--please reply!!!

[Vicky Viens]

Try that again.

I want to apologize for a couple things regarding my last email to the group.

I failed to notice that the UUA guidelines were put out on August 19th, the day before Donia put out her email.  Donia checked late at night and we don't know when the change was actually posted.  It said August guideline and I presumed it was earlier in August that they wear clothes to getting this done several weeks ago and I assumed it had been put out earlier. It was just fluke
________________________________
From: Choir <choir-bounces at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> on behalf of Vicky Viens via Choir <choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org>
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2021 3:56:31 PM
To: Donia Prince <ucm.music21 at gmail.com>
Cc: choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org <choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org>
Subject: Re: [Choir] Important question--please reply!!!

I want to apologize for a couple things regarding my email to this group.

________________________________
From: Donia Prince <ucm.music21 at gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2021 11:59:16 AM
To: Vicky Viens <vicky.viens at live.com>
Cc: Tamara <tlminvt at gmavt.net>; Sue Stukey <susan.stukey at gmail.com>; choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org <choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org>
Subject: Re: [Choir] Important question--please reply!!!

Hello all,
In response to Vicky's email, that new guidance just came out today and I nor the executive team nor covid task force had seen it yet. It's something that I have been waiting and watching for. Obviously it is going to change things. I I'm at my other job this afternoon and so can't address this further, but there will be more to come.
Donia

On Fri, Aug 20, 2021, 11:43 AM Vicky Viens <vicky.viens at live.com<mailto:vicky.viens at live.com>> wrote:
I regret feeling like I need to send this email but I consider it important for all of you to know some facts and my opinion.  I feel there is an advocacy of a response to Covid-19 that is in part possibly simple error and in part lack of understanding.

No it is not safe. That is not my opinion but the opinion of those who have done the research. It is also now the current opinion of the UUA.  https://www.uua.org/pandemics/gathering-guidance/singing
Extracted 8/20/21
"
No indoor singing at this time.

For outdoor singing (where outdoor gatherings have been deemed safe), all singers must wear well-fitted masks<https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/02/03/962197192/5-hacks-to-make-your-face-mask-more-protective> and stay at least 10 to 12 feet apart.

We know this is hard. You might be asking, "But what about...?" It is impossible to provide simple, useful, universal guidance. Nearly all of our advisors made clear that any form of singing inside a building is problematic and ill-advised for now, especially as the science around delta transmission is still emerging."

The studies that the UUA has been using have always indicated masking at all times.  They clearly state that their recommendation is not a menu which is contrary to what the UUA did previously.

There is a clear lack of understanding of aerosols and their properties in choir.  For example, this statement makes absolutely no sense even for before Delta.

"At the end of each 1/2 hour segment, we could take masks off for 5 or 10 minutes to sing maskless.  In that amount of time, any aerosols that escape won't have the time to spread, nor would there be long enough exposure to be problematic.  We can adjust this according to current conditions and people's comfort level."

There is the biggest build up of aerosols from singing at the end of a half hour, which is why the room is cleared to allow air exchange. It would be the MOST DANGEROUS TIME to go maskless.  Also aerosols travel very quickly, the speed depending on the motions of air in the room.  Please provide a link that shows aerosols staying around the person who generated them for 5-10 minutes.

Aerosols are considered the prime factor for spreading. You can feel droplets, like when someone sneezes. You cannot feel aerosols. Masks need to be tight fitting because air travels the fastest through the points of least resistance.

I am not feeling lucky enough to consider these guidelines safe at this time.  It is always a matter of luck (except for the cases of stupidity).  The science is there to increase that luck.

I'm also concerned with a tendency to occasionally ignore the guidelines, or the choice of which guidelines to follow.

Singing together is wonderful.  Having our friends sick or dying from Covid is not.  The pandemic is still here.  I personally am practicing extreme caution for my sake and for others.

May we all continue to be lucky.

Vicky
________________________________
From: Choir <choir-bounces at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org<mailto:choir-bounces at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org>> on behalf of Tamara via Choir <choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org<mailto:choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org>>
Sent: Friday, August 20, 2021 9:36:12 AM
To: Sue Stukey <susan.stukey at gmail.com<mailto:susan.stukey at gmail.com>>
Cc: Donia Prince <ucm.music21 at gmail.com<mailto:ucm.music21 at gmail.com>>; choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org<mailto:choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org> <choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org<mailto:choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org>>
Subject: Re: [Choir] Important question--please reply!!!

That sounds like a good plan to start. I will need to get a singer's mask.
Tamara

On Aug 20, 2021 9:18 AM, Sue Stukey via Choir <choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org<mailto:choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org>> wrote:
Hi, all,
This plan seems as safe as it can be and I'd have no qualms about singing with you all.
(are the masks in yet?)
Cheers,
Sue

On Fri, Aug 20, 2021 at 9:10 AM Donia Prince via Choir <choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org<mailto:choir at unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org>> wrote:
Hi,

As we get closer to getting the blessing to hold  indoor choir rehearsals, the question has come up from the covid task force of "how safe do choir members feel singing with these guidelines?"
If you think you might participate in choir this fall, could you review this and then answer that question?  Just reply to me, for confidentiality and so that no one is influenced by anyone else's response.

Here are the guidelines that have been put out by the group that has been doing the research that is that standard for performing arts organizations:


-Sing with well-fitting masks

-Keep 6 ft distance

-Rehearse in well-ventilated spaces.  Outdoors is best, established HVAC systems next, with air exchange rate of 5 ACH or better.

-Rehearse indoors for no longer than 30 minutes before allowing for a complete air exchange.  Outdoors, 60 minute limit.



Here is the link to that organization's home page, where you learn more about all of this if you wish.  You might want to look at the short video titled "Covid mitigation strategies for choir" which you can find on that page.  https://www.nfhs.org/articles/unprecedented-international-coalition-led-by-performing-arts-organizations-to-commission-covid-19-study/

Here is the plan I have proposed:

--Meeting at the large space at the North Branch Nature center.
They have a new, state of the art HVAC system with an air exchange rate of 9 ACH. (meaning the air is replaced inside 9 times per hour).  We can also open windows.
--I measured, and we can fit 25 people singing in there at 6 ft distance.  We will be careful about this.
--Sing with the singer's masks, or ones with equal coverage.
--We will sing in 3 --1/2 hour segments, with  10 minute breaks out of the room in-between, in order for a complete air exchange to happen.  (Total of 2 hours together, 1 -1/2 hours singing)
--At the end of each 1/2 hour segment, we could take masks off for 5 or 10 minutes to sing maskless.  In that amount of time, any aerosols that escape won't have the time to spread, nor would there be long enough exposure to be problematic.  We can adjust this according to current conditions and people's comfort level.

So, how safe do you feel singing with these guidelines?  Thank you for answering!

Donia

Unitarian Church of Montpelier
Choir email list
unsubscribe at www.unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org<http://www.unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org>

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org/pipermail/choir_unitarianchurchofmontpelier.org/attachments/20210826/69998e3f/attachment.htm>