Responsible RestartOhio Performing Arts Theaters Mandatory Directors, Producers, Conductors, Actors, Dancers, Musicians, Other Performers, Employees and Volunteers Recommended Best Practices • Conduct daily health symptom assessments. • When possible, a face covering with a small slit for • Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms must stay mouthpiece access should be worn while playing an home.* instrument. In instrument groups where a face • Maintain a minimum of 6 feet between individuals covering cannot physically be worn while playing, a when not rehearsing/performing. When rehearsing/ face covering should be worn over the chin and performing, maintain physical distance to the extent replaced during periods when not playing. possible. When not possible, limit the amount and • Speaking loudly, singing, and playing some musical length of close contact as much as possible. instruments may pose a greater risk of airborne • To the extent possible, minimize cross-team contact transmission of the coronavirus. Consequently, it is between actors, stage managers, directing staff, music recommended to maintain social distancing during team, choreography team, creative team, and auditions, rehearsals and performances, preferably production staff. more than 6 feet. • No congregating before or after practices/rehearsals/ • Pre-record chorus numbers to reduce the number of performances is permitted. performers singing live onstage an any one time. • Promote good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. • Identify individuals at higher risk of developing Flyers and signs are available at coronavirus.ohio.gov serious complications from COVID-19, such as those (https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/ with asthma diabetes or other health problems and responsible-restart-ohio/Posters-and-Signs/). take extra precautions to protect them. • Make hand sanitizer readily available in convenient • Monitor the findings of an ongoing COVID-19 study locations commissioned by a coalition of performing arts • Directors, producers, conductors, employees and organizations and implement recommendations. volunteers must wear face coverings at all times, and (https://www.nfhs.org/articles/unprecedented actors, dancers, musicians and other performers must international-coalition-led-by-performing-arts wear face coverings when not rehearsing/performing, organizations-to-commission-covid-19-study/). except for one of the reasons stated in the Director’s Order for Facial Coverings throughout the State of Ohio signed July 23, 2020 (https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/ publicorders/Directors-Order-Facial-Coverings-through out-State-Ohio-reader.pdf) or as it may thereafter be amended. Directors, producers and conductors are not required to wear facial coverings when directing performers. (Written justification must be provided to local health officials, upon request, explaining why a director, producer, conductor, actor, dancer, musician, or other performer, employee or volunteer is not required to wear a facial covering when not rehearsing or performing. At minimum, facial coverings (masks) should be cloth/fabric and cover an individual’s nose, mouth, and chin.) • Strictly follow Ohio’s face coverings Order when out in public in order to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 and potentially spreading it during practices/ rehearsals/performances. • It is recommended that individuals traveling to Ohio from a state on Ohio’s travel advisory list (https:// coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/ families-and-individuals/COVID-19-Travel-Advisory/ COVID-19-Travel-Advisory) self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival before participating in rehearsals/ Mandatory Recommended Best Practices • The facility/venue should provide facial coverings Patrons • Patrons must conduct daily health symptom assessments before each performance. • Anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms must stay home.* • The maximum number of individuals gathered in an OUTDOOR venue is the lesser of 15% of fixed, seated capacity or 1,500 individuals. The maximum number of individuals gathered in an INDOOR venue is the lesser of 15% of fixed, seating capacity or 300 individuals. These capacity limits apply unless a venue’s local health department and the Ohio Department of Health approve a venue’s variance plan for a different maximum capacity limit. • Social distancing must be maintained throughout the venue, and seating must be arranged and assigned to allow for 6 feet in each direction between groups of: (1) No more than four individuals, or (2) Members of one household (i.e., parents/guardians and dependent children). • Family members should sit together, socially distanced from other individuals/family groups. • Patrons must wear face coverings at all times except for one of the reasons stated in the Director’s Order for Facial Coverings throughout the State of Ohio signed July 23, 2020 (https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/ publicorders/Directors-Order-Facial-Coverings-through out-State-Ohio-reader.pdf) or as it may thereafter be amended. • No congregating before or after performances is permitted. Auditions, Rehearsals and Performances • Modify the process of auditions, rehearsals and performances to maintain a minimum of 6 feet among individuals to the extent possible. When not possible, limit the amount and length of close contact as much as possible. • Reduce the length of rehearsals to the extent possible. • Congregating before or after auditions, rehearsals, and performances is not permitted. • Close contact between performers and patrons before and after performances is prohibited (including backstage and post-performance meet-and-greets). • Conduct auditions, rehearsals and performances outdoors when possible. • Speaking loudly, singing, and playing some musical instruments may pose a greater risk of airborne transmission of the coronavirus. Consequently, it is recommended to maintain social distancing during auditions, rehearsals and performances, preferably more than 6 feet. • Perform without an intermission to reduce the number of patrons congregating in the lobby, restrooms, concessions, etc. • Arrange indoor auditions/rehearsals in 30-minute blocks and afterward clear the room for enough time to allow the HVAC system to complete a minimum of one air change based on the system’s air change rate (consult with facility personnel). • Arrange outdoor auditions/rehearsals in 30-minute blocks with a 5-minute pause between blocks to allow aerosol particles to disperse. Equipment • • • • • • • • Facilities/ Venues • Promote good hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette. Flyers and signs are available at coronavirus.ohio.gov (https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/ responsible-restart-ohio/Posters-and-Signs/). • Make hand sanitizer readily available in convenient locations. Whenever possible, equipment should not be shared, such as microphones and props. When equipment must be shared, it should be disinfected between uses. Clean and disinfect frequently touched equipment, props, etc., between rehearsals and performances. Personal items in dressing rooms, etc., must have proper separation and must not be shared. Do not share towels or facial coverings. Do not share water bottles or other drinks. Do not share food. • for patrons who arrive without one. Seat patrons at least 12 feet (preferably more) from performers. If necessary, do not allow patron seating in the front row(s) to maintain such distancing. Ensure adequate equipment to prevent the need for sharing (e.g., microphones). Take measures to reduce the spread of air expelled from musical instruments such as installing bell/instrument covers. • Ensure adequate equipment to prevent the need for sharing (e.g., microphones). • Encourage advance reservations and digital ticketing. • Use touchless payment systems as much as possible. Mandatory Recommended Best Practices • Consider ways to schedule staggered ingress Facilities/ Venues (cont.) • In “know before you go” communications to patrons, let them know that face coverings must be worn at all times, especially during intermission and in restrooms, except for allowable exceptions (see “Patrons” section). • Where a box office/will call window does not already have a glass partition between ticketing staff and patrons, install a physical barrier to maintain social distancing. • Establish directional pathways using signage and floor markings/visual cues, etc., to manage the flow of patrons to promote social distancing at the box office/will call window, when entering and exiting the theater, during the security/bag check, coat check, intermission, in and out of restrooms, at retail/ concessions operations, etc. • Monitor and limit the number of individuals in the lobby area and restrooms to enable at least 6 feet of social distancing. • Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces regularly (e.g., door and sink handles, handrails, etc.), including after intermission and between performances. • Adequate time should be allotted between performances to allow for proper cleaning and disinfection. • Dressing rooms and other shared spaces should be cleaned and sanitized frequently. Individuals must maintain social distancing while in these rooms, and facial coverings must be worn at all times. • If performing inside, ensure ventilation systems or fans operate properly. Increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible. • Discontinue use of self-service racks of flyers, brochures, etc., promoting upcoming performances, etc. • Promote through signage at least 6 feet of social distancing and no congregating permitted. Intermissions • If an intermission is held, announce at the start that facial coverings must be worn, congregating in the lobby is prohibited, and patrons should return to their seats as quickly as possible. • Consider not holding intermissions to minimize congregating/ lines in the lobby, restroom, etc. Musicians/ Orchestras • • Because playing some musical instruments involves breathing deeply and expelling air forcefully, the risk of airborne transmission of the coronavirus may be increased. Their performance space onstage and in orchestra pits should be arranged to maximize as much social distancing as possible. Onstage performers should maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing (and preferably more) from musicians who are also onstage or in the orchestra pit. • • • Food Service Operations • Theaters with food service operations must follow Ohio’s • Use touchless payment systems as much as guidance for “Restaurants, Bars, Banquet & Catering possible. Facilities/Services” (https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/ static/responsible/Restaurants-and-Bars.pdf). Retail Operations • Theaters with retail operations must follow Ohio’s “Consumer, Retail, Service and Entertainment” guidance (https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/responsible/ Consumer-Retail-Services.pdf). in order to minimize lines for security check, ticket scanning, coat check, etc. • Indoor venues should follow American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) guidance and resources (https://www.ashrae.org/technical-resources/ resources). Take measures to reduce the spread of air expelled from musical instruments such as installing bell/instrument covers. Maintain at least 6 feet (and preferably more) of social distancing among musicians. If necessary to enable greater social distancing, have musicians play from offstage instead of in the orchestra pit. • Use touchless payment systems as much as possible. Mandatory Confirmed Cases • Immediately isolate and seek medical care for any individual who becomes ill or develops symptoms. • Contact the local health district about suspected COVID-19 cases or exposure. • An individual who tests positive for COVID-19, whether symptomatic or asymptomatic, must not return to work until (1) Meeting the CDC requirements for ending self-isolation using either a symptom-based or test-based strategy.** • An individual who had close contact (within six feet of an infected individual for at least 15 minutes), or who had direct physical contact with the person, or who were coughed or sneezed on by the infected person, must self-quarantine for 14 days following exposure based on CDC guidance.*** Individuals may return to work afterward if they have not had any COVID-19 symptoms. Recommended Best Practices • Work with local health department to identify potentially infected or exposed individuals to help facilitate effective exposure notification and contact tracing. • To the extent possible, facilitate testing of all suspected infections or exposures. • Following testing, contact local health department to initiate appropriate care and exposure notification. * Per CDC, COVID-19 symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea. This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update symptoms as more is learned about COVID-19. CDC’s list of COVID-19 symptoms and a “self-checker” is available at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html. ** CDC guidance on “When You Can be Around Others After You Had or Likely Had COVID-19” at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/ end-home-isolation.html. ***CDC guidance on “Quarantine If You Might Be Sick (Stay Home if You Might Have Been Exposed to COVID-19)” at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/ quarantine.html. Revised 8/20