ANCA WA COVID 19 Response

Dear ANCA Member

I sincerely hope that you are going well as we move into Phase 3 of the COVID-19 WA roadmap. From the SongFest/ANCA questionnaire it has become clear that the choral community is concerned about resuming rehearsals in a responsible manner. While it is not possible to provide any guarantee that it can be totally safe, it is allowable for choirs and directors to resume rehearsals by following the WA Health Department guidelines for activities in the community.

This has been discussed at length on the ANCA National Council, and as each state is in a different situation, it was decided that each state Chapter will provide information to their ANCA Chapter.

Below is an excerpt from a letter I have received from Dr Revle Bangor-Jones Coordinator – (WA) Public Health Emergency Operation Centre

Phase 3 of the COVID-19 WA roadmap allows for indoor and outdoor gatherings of up to 100 people at any one time, per single undivided space, and applying the revised two square metre per person capacity rule. School choirs in WA have recommenced.

Everyone is encouraged to continue to practise physical distancing and good personal hygiene and minimise the use of any shared equipment. Shared equipment should be cleaned between use.

WA has now had 32 days without confirmed community infections. Below are some guidelines which have been taken from a variety of sources, including ANCA National Council, NZCF and WA Department of Health.  We note that these guidelines do not ensure safety or prevent singers from potential exposure to COVID-19.  In accordance with state government advice, people who are highly vulnerable to complications from infection should assess their own risks before engaging in this activity. (read here for full details.) https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert/advice-for-people-at-risk-of-coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-for-older-people

Stay home if you are unwell: Choir management should turn away any singer displaying signs of being unwell, even with the slightest symptoms in the nose, mouth or throat.  Members are to check with a medical professional if they have any symptoms before attending a choir rehearsal

Contact tracing: Ensure there are sign-in forms at the door (singers should use their own pens) and contact lists are kept up to date.  

Wash/sanitise hands: Ensure there is access to hand washing/hand sanitiser at the door to the rehearsal room and in the bathrooms.  

Space out at rehearsals: Comply with current state government regulations which require 1.5m between people from different households and at least 2sqm per person.  Choirs may choose to adopt a greater spacing between singers at their discretion. The conductor should stand as far back from the choir as practicable. Don’t sing in a circle formation – all the singers should face forward.  

Length of rehearsals: Limit to 2 hours to limit exposure to the virus.  

Ventilation in rehearsal rooms: Ensure adequate ventilation, with a minimum room temperature of 18°C.  

Snacks & drinks:  Not providing food or drink. Ask members not to share any food or drink they may bring to rehearsals. 

 Limit physical contact:  Singers should not pass around music or folders. If music needs to be handed out it should be done by one or two people who use hand sanitiser before touching the copies to be handed out.  Minimize unstructured movement of singers between formal rehearsal activity. Singers should leave the rehearsal space without delay and observe physical distancing at all times.

Shared Equipment and fixtures:  Equipment handed between singers including music folders and chairs must be cleaned after each rehearsal.  Light switches and bathroom fittings should be cleaned regularly.

A member is diagnosed with COVID 19: The whole choir should be tested for COVID19 and self-isolate for 14 days

To provide choral directors with an opportunity to share ideas and ask more questions, a webinar has been organized for Wednesday 24 June at 7.30 pm

Wishing everybody all the best as we start singing again!

Warm regards

Anette Kerkovius

(ANCA WA President.)

16/06/2020