Page updated May 18, 2022
While the Government of New Brunswick, and many other authorities, have removed most or all COVID-19 restrictions, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 remains a significant concern. Choirs, and all who gather together, must continue to account for the ongoing pandemic in their planning.
There are a variety of mitigation and prevention measures that have been shown to be effective, and they are most effective in combination. Mitigation and prevention measures include, but are not limited to:
- Vaccination
- Good ventilation, either natural (opening windows) or mechanical (HVAC systems, HEPA filters and fans), maintaining and measuring air quality, and using UV light to degrade the coronavirus
- Masking with the highest-quality mask available.
- Minimizing contacts and time spent in crowds
- Staying home if feeling unwell
Resources/ressources
Province of New Brunswick official COVID-19 resources:
Government of New Brunswick main COVID-19 page: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/corporate/promo/covid-19.html
Choral organizations should consult Worksafe NB for regulations and recommendations on how to have safe and healthy rehearsal and performance environments.
Worksafe NB: https://www.worksafenb.ca
GNB COVID-19 page principale: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/fr/corporate/promo/covid-19.html
Entreprises et organisations comme les chœurs devraient suivre les recommandations de Travail sécuritaire NB, et prendre toutes les précautions raisonnables pour garder ses lieus de travail sain et sécuritaire . Pour en savoir plus, visitez: https://www.travailsecuritairenb.ca/sujets-de-sécurité/phase-verte-et-au-delà-prévention-des-maladies-transmissibles/
Planning for Your Choir in Uncertain Times: A Framework https://nbcfsite.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/frameworkchoiralbertae.pdf
Assurer la planification de votre choral en temps incertain – comment se structurer https://nbcfsite.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/assurer-la-planification-de-votre-choral-en-temps-incertain-comment-se-structurer-20.05.20.pdf
Masks for choirs
Wearing a mask at all times in a choral setting is recommended best practice in many jurisdictions and is recommended by the New Brunswick Choral Federation.
Here is our recommended place to start learning about masks for singers: Constructing Masks for Singers by Joan Fearnley and Dr. Jocelyn Songer https://makermask.org/constructing-masks-for-singers/
National Webinar: We Can Sing Safely!
https://www.choralcanada.org/wecansingsafelywebinar.html
Presenters:
Dr. Juliette O’Keeffe, Environmental Health Knowledge Translation Scientist at The National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health (NCCEH)
Allison Tremblay (she/her/hers), Victory Square Law Office
Margo Nightingale, lawyer and mediator, conductor of Aurora Chorealis
Dr. Allison McGeer, Professor in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology and at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a Senior Clinician Scientist at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of the Sinai Health System in Toronto
COVID-19 Resources for the Canadian Choral Community
https://www.choralcanada.org/covid-19-resources.html
Ressources COVID-19 pour la communauté chorale canadienne
https://www.choralcanada.org/ressources-covid-19.html
Alliance chorale du Québec: En choeur pendant la COVID (Mise à jour 9 février 2022)
https://www.chorales.ca/COVID-19
Guide pour un retour à la pratique en toute sécurité
Facebook Groups:
Choirs Unite: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2848287428572269/
Canadian Choral Community: Advocates and Enthusiasts: CANADIAN CHORAL COMMUNITY | Advocates and Enthusiasts!: https://www.facebook.com/groups/canadianchoraladvocacynetwork/
The Singing Network COVID-19 Resources
http://www.singingnetwork.ca/covid-19-resources/
Choral Online Resource List
Click to navigate to a google doc
Federal Government Covid-19 Measures – Implications for Sector Organizations. Updated regularly.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQbkT4Zr5isIGl6EAluwm0-eO8-Y7xP8KNVMXasavT4DlolL8QIdcrxPKMt_4p_LApkYCpdcSvriJps/pub
Government of Canada COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan.html
Plan d’intervention économique du gouvernement du Canada pour répondre à la COVID-19
https://www.canada.ca/fr/ministere-finances/plan-intervention-economique.html
Further research:
International Coalition Performing Arts Aerosol Study: Click here
National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health COVID-19 Risks and Precautions for Choirs: https://ncceh.ca/documents/evidence-review/covid-19-risks-and-precautions-choirs
Centre de collaboration nationale en santé environnementale Chant choral : risques et précautions associés à la COVID-19: consultez le rapport ici: https://ccnse.ca/documents/evidence-review/chant-choral-risques-et-precautions-associes-la-covid-19
New Brunswick Choral Federation 