We want to start by acknowledging that the COVID-19 pandemic is not over, and that it has had a disproportionate impact on the trans and nonbinary community, particularly communities of color, over the last few years. We also recognize that singing in person is not always safe and accessible for those who are at highest risk (or living with someone who is). STANCE will do our best to make it as safe as possible for singers and we ask singers to do as much as possible to keep each other safe as well.
Covid is an ongoing challenge.
STANCE Covid Policies
Masking
Starting November 29, 2023, masks are optional for singers during rehearsals and performances. Any singer that wishes to be masked for all or part of a season can request an N95 quality singer’s mask. This decision was made because of recent data showing that hospitalizations/ED visits (1), viral loads (2), and rates of long COVID (3) have decreased significantly and to balance competing singer needs with our music quality. We also believe that masking is a powerful tool for those that choose to use it but that it does not necessitate every person in the room to be masked in order to be effective. Please see the References panel for the data cited for these decisions.
Testing
Weekly testing is no longer required in order to sing unmasked. With current strains, testing is unlikely to show up positive until 2-3 days into symptoms and can give a false sense of security. If you do have symptoms, we encourage you to stay home and test at both day 1 and day 3 of symptoms.
Vaccination
All singers are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have received their updated BA-variant Moderna or Pfizer booster after September 2022. That means having at least 3 vaccines 2 weeks prior to attending rehearsals. We will not be allowing vaccine exceptions at this time due to the exponential risk (4) posted to the other singers by unvaccinated people. Beginning February 21, 2024, the updated XBB-monovalent Moderna, Pfizer or Novavax vaccines will be required. Please see the References panel for the data cited for these decisions.
If singers are feeling unwell, particularly with symptoms that could be contagious such as coughing, sneezing, sore throat, fever, or other cold/flu/COVID-like symptoms, we ask you to stay home and join virtually if you can. We will have a livestream of the rehearsal available for virtual attendance.
Symptom monitoring
Choir Culture
There is so much more to STANCE than just singing! Click on these sections to learn more about our choir culture, our code of conduct, our COVID policy, and how to join us!
References
Our executive director, Haven Wilvich, works in COVID and HIV vaccine research, and as such is able to stay up-to-date on the most recently-available infectious disease data. These are links to the studies cited above.
Beginning February 21, 2024, the updated XBB-monovalent Moderna, Pfizer or Novavax vaccines will be required.