Kitchener Waterloo Community Orchestra
KWCO Pandemic Safety Planning
Updated February 2023
Rehearsals
Source
-
KWCO’s COVID Safety Plan was developed in consultation with a Health and Safety consultant engaged on on behalf of KWCO by Orchestras Canada and has been updated as research and recommendations have changed
Rehearsals
-
Although politicians have removed most COVID restrictions, KWCO will continue to act with caution, as advised by many medical experts
Air Quality
-
KWCO will work with our venues to ensure that ventilation is provided at the highest levels possible
Rehearsal Capacity
-
The Community Room at the Community Pavilion is large enough to allow 2m spacing between all players for up to 55 players
Vaccination
-
For the protection of all our players, full vaccination is highly recommended, but no longer required by KWCO.
Screening
-
Formal active on-line screening will no longer be required
-
Personal screening is highly recommended; symptoms that might be COVID should be considered to indicate infection, even if a RAT still shows negative, and players should not attend rehearsal.
Rapid Test
-
A rapid antigen test on the day of rehearsal will no longer be required.
-
If you have tested positive, please do not come to rehearsal
Submitting Results
-
For the safety of all participants, KWCO will rely on each player to rigorously self screen and not come to rehearsal if either symptoms, PCR test or RAT indicate the possibility of COVID.
Contact tracing
-
KWCO will maintain contact information for all participants at a rehearsal, to be used by Public Health if necessary
Masking of participants
-
Out of respect for our vulnerable members, the Board strongly recommends that well fitting masks be worn indoors, as advised by infectious disease specialists and Ontario Public Health officials. * see Ontario Public Health website below
-
N95, KN95 or KN94 masks (3 times as effective as surgical masks) are strongly recommended, but surgical masks will be accepted
Spacing
-
All players should avoid close contact with other players when entering or leaving or at break
-
In general, players will not share stands, but players close to each other may choose to share if both are comfortable with that level of risk.
Cleaning / disinfecting
-
KWCO will provide sanitizer that can be used to disinfect your chair and stand
-
KWCO will provide hand sanitizer at the rehearsal space, in addition to the sanitizer available in the building.
Return after positive test or symptoms
-
Players who do wear masks at rehearsal may return 5 days after onset of symptoms or a first positive COVID test, if they no longer have a fever and if symptoms are improving * see Ontario Public Health website below
-
Players who cannot wear masks at rehearsal should not return to rehearsals until more than 10 days after symptom onset or positive test date, whichever happened first *see Ontario Public Health website below, specifically the ‘additional-precautions’ page
Ontario Provincial Public Health Websites referenced in our protocols -
https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-health-measures-and-advice and
https://www.ontario.ca/page/public-health-measures-and-advice#additional-precautions