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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 taking the safety measures outlined below.

Health Screening

  • Self-monitoring health prior to attending rehearsal.

  • Weekly testing is recommended for all singers. Testing is largely available through 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 and 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

  • Chicago Children's Choir has a mask optional policy, but respects and follows the policy of the venues where rehearsals and events take place.

  • Three foot distancing between participants while singing or engaging in activities with heavy exhalation.

  • Only singers will be able to enter the rehearsal space. There may not be a separate waiting area available for parents.



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.

  • Performers: For most performances, we will recommend masks are removed while performing, but worn at other times where 3 feet of distance is not maintained. Proof of full vaccination or negative COVID test within 72 hours required.*
  • Audience: Proof of full vaccination or negative COVID test within 72 hours required.* Masks must be worn at all times except while actively eating or drinking. Accordingly, masks will be required at all times during concerts for guests ages 2 and up. In addition, all guests ages 5 and up will be required to show proof of full vaccination¹ or a negative COVID-19 test² prior to entering the venue space. Seating can be at full capacity.
  • Tours: Masks are optional on tours, but will be required in certain settings including on airplanes. Masks requirements will be based on CCC staff discretion in the best interest of the singers. Tour participation will only be available to singers who are up-to-date with their COVID vaccinations (final dose or booster received within 6 months of the event).
Tour Activities

About Vaccination

Chicago Children’s Choir strongly encourages the vaccination of our singers against COVID-19 for the safety of our entire community. Currently, Illinois residents aged 5 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.


The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for individuals 16 years of age and older.

For more information about the vaccination and where you can book an appointment, visit the CPS vaccination page.

Still Have Questions?


On January 14, 2022, CCC sat down with three medical experts to answer questions about COVID-19 vaccines. Answers in the video are also translated in Spanish.


Questions Answered:
00:00 Intro
04:17 Why are you vaccinated?
12:53 Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe for children?
20:50 What are the differences between COVID-19 vaccines other vaccines?
28:02 How does the COVID-19 vaccine help the community?
34:21 If someone gets COVID-19, are people who are unvaccinated more contagious than people who are vaccinated?
41:45 Different variants of COVID-19
51:24 Final thoughts

Where to get vaccinated.

  1. Text your ZIP code to 438829 to find locations near you.
  2. For more information from Chicago Public Schools visit their page.
  3. For more information from the City of Chicago visit their page.

Want to learn more?

For more info and to answer further questions, here are some credible resources:

  1. UChicago
  2. John Hopkins
  3. Northwestern
  4. Mayo Clinic
  5. CDC
  6. Dr. Valerie Fitzhugh interview

Contact Tracing and Quarantine

CCC requests anyone who receives a COVID-19 positive test result notify their Program Assistant within 24 hours of receiving the result. Regardless of vaccination status, the CDC recommends those who test positive for COVID-19 stay home for 5 days (and longer, as needed, until symptoms resolve). If there are no symptoms after 5 days, the isolation period may end with mask wearing around others for an additional 5 days. 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.

Once CCC is notified of a positive COVID-19 case, we evaluate who has been in close contact with the individual who tested positive. 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 according to the updated CDC guidelines and the Illinois Department of Health and Illinois State Board of Education:

  • Individuals who are up to date on their vaccinations (have received the booster or final dose within the last 6 months) are advised to wear a mask for 10 days while around others and test on day 5, if possible. If symptoms develop, stay home and test.
  • Unvaccinated individuals or those who have not received a vaccination dose in over 6 months are advised to quarantine for 5 days and test on day 5. If negative, wear a mask for an additional 5 days while around others. If symptoms develop, stay home and test
  • The Illinois Department of Health and Illinois State Board of Education advises that students within 3-6 feet of someone who tests positive do not need to quarantine if both the positive case and close contact were consistently masked for the entire exposure period.


Reference: Illinois Department of Public Health guidance for schools