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Masks

Health and Safety

How We Keep Your Family Safe

CCC’s top priority is creating a safe space for young people to come together on common ground. In doing so, we are committed to following guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Illinois Department of Public Health, Chicago Department of Public Health and medical advisors, as well as the results of the academic study “Measurements and Simulations of Aerosol Released While Singing.”

In the event that safety measures become too restrictive for a high quality, in-person experience, CCC will shift to virtual programming. Similarly, as restrictions relax, CCC will communicate new safety measures to singers and families. Currently, we're making the safety measures outlined below standard practice.

Health Screening

  • Self-monitoring health prior to attending rehearsal

  • Temperature checks upon arrival (must be below 100.4 to participate)

  • Weekly testing is recommended for all singers. Testing is largely available through schools and guidance on procedures is forthcoming from Chicago Public Schools. If unavailable through their school, singers may request weekly at-home tests through Chicago Children’s Choir. CCC will aim to accommodate as many of these requests as possible during periods of significant community transmission.

  • All CCC staff are vaccinated and provided with weekly testing.



Sanitization

  • Hand sanitizer upon arrival, sanitization of any shared materials
  • Air purifiers will be utilized in all rehearsal spaces
  • Singers will be dismissed 10 minutes before the end of each class to allow for air exchange
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Distancing

  • Well-fitted masks that cover the nose and mouth must be used at all times. Surgical masks provided.
  • Six foot distancing between participants while singing or engaging in activities with heavy exhalation. Distance may be reduced to 3 feet when engaging in other static activities.
  • Only singers will be able to enter the rehearsal space. There may not be a separate waiting area available for parents.


About Vaccination

Currently, Illinois residents 12 years and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect yourself and your community. The vaccines teach our immune system how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19, and they have been proven to be effective at preventing severe illness and death from COVID-19.

Performances and Tours

For the safety of our participants, Chicago Children’s Choir will adhere to the following guidelines for each performance situation. These guidelines were created based on advice of medical professionals, federal, state, and local requirements, and in line with the practices of a consortium of performance venues across Chicago. CCC concert protocols may change, be extended, or be relaxed as we continue to monitor the health guidance.

  • Ensembles with mixed vaccinated and unvaccinated singers: performers will keep 6 feet distance and wear masks while performing. Proof of vaccination or negative COVID test within 72 hours of performance required.
  • Ensembles with 95% or more fully vaccinated: performers will keep 3 feet distance and wear masks while performing. Proof of vaccination or negative COVID test within 72 hours of performance required.
  • Ensembles with 100% fully vaccinated AND a negative COVID test within 48 hours (or provided onsite): Masks may be removed and performers can come closer together.
  • Audience: Proof of vaccination or negative COVID test within 72 hours required. Masks must be worn at all times. Seating can be at full capacity.
  • Proof of vaccination required for all tour participants along with a negative COVID test within 72 hours of departure.
Tour Activities

Contact Tracing and Quarantine

CCC is notified of a COVID-19 positive test result by a parent/guardian, staff or program partner using this form. Specifically for COVID-19, we look at those who have been in close contact with an individual who’s tested positive. We define close contact as within six feet of the positive person for 15 minutes or longer during a single day- this is with or without a mask.

Based on attendance records, CCC will determine possible exposures to the COVID-19 positive case- this includes determining if the ill individual participated in CCC activities during their contagious period (two days prior to onset of symptoms or positive test if asymptomatic), and what individuals were in close contact with them.

CCC will notify via email anyone present onsite during the contagious period of a positive individual. Those identified as close contacts will be advised to quarantine at home even if they do not have symptoms. The parent/guardian of the positive individual may receive a call from the Chicago Department of Public Health (312-74-COVID) as part of the city’s contact tracing program.

The safest option for individuals who feel healthy but recently had close contact with a person with COVID-19 is to stay home for 14 days after their last exposure. Check your temperature twice a day and watch for symptoms of COVID-19. If you do not have symptoms, an acceptable alternative is to quarantine for 10 days, or if you do not have symptoms AND receive a negative COVID-19 test result on day 5 or after, to quarantine for 7 days. Fully vaccinated individuals do not need to quarantine if asymptomatic.

Reference: Illinois Department of Public Health guidance for schools