STANCE Covid policies updated as of August 19, 2024.
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 can be made safer by the use of masking and vaccination policies. 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. No in-person singing will be risk-free, but we also recognize the positive mental health value in singing together and gathering for community.
Covid is an ongoing challenge.
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 and recorded 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.
All singers are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and will be required to get the Fall 2024 updated booster prior to the dress rehearsal.
Covid Policy
For the Fall 2024 concert and rehearsals, all singers will be provided with N95 quality singer’s masks and we will require them at all times when indoors except when taking a sip of water. We encourage you to bring drinks with straws because they are easier to drink without having to fully remove your mask.
Masking
We recommend testing frequently if you have any symptoms, even if they may be allergies. 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. COVID tests will be provided each week at rehearsals.
Please notify covid@stanceseattle.org if you have a positive COVID test result within 3 days of attending a rehearsal.
Testing
Vaccination
All singers are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and will be required to get the Fall 2024 updated booster prior to the dress rehearsal. We will not be allowing vaccine exceptions at this time due to the exponential risk posted to the other singers by unvaccinated people.
STANCE will be once again coordinating a Care-a-Van mobile medical clinic to come to a choir rehearsal to offer free flu and updated COVID-19 booster vaccines. Details TBD!
Air filtration
We will have HEPA air purifiers in the space to circulate air, and we have chosen a rehearsal and performance venue with a large airspace.
