MRCO COVID risk assessment and mitigations
(updated: 10 December 2021)
MRCO is a member of Making Music. "Making Music is the UK’s membership organisation for leisure-time music, with over 3,600 groups representing around 200,000 music makers across the UK." They were central in negotiations with the UK Government in facilitating the return of music making after the first lock-down in 2020. MRCO has followed their guidance since MRCO Ensembles started rehearsals indoors in 2020.
The aim of MRCO's COVID risk assessment and mitigations is:
- That no-one who is knowingly infectious attends MRCO rehearsals or performances
- That if someone (who is unknowingly) infectious attends, no-one else gets infected from that person
All members of MRCO are requested to read and undertake the updated recommendations of the MRCO COVID risk assessment to enable MRCO to realise these aims.
Mitigations - all members to follow where appropriate:
- Ensure good ventilation in rehearsal spaces
- Wear face coverings Regular hand washing (20 secs minimum)/ hand sanitiser
- Cleaning - bring and use own cleaning products
- Bring own music and music stand, do not share
- Strongly recommend all players are up-to-date with their vaccination status where possible
- All players asked to take a lateral within 48 hours of a rehearsal or performance.
Risk assessment summary:
*with: symptoms, positive tests, close contact with someone who has COVID, told to self-isolate, need to quarantine after a visit abroad.
This protocol is addressed by MRCO's existing personal risk assessment to be completed by all members and guests before attending any rehearsal or performance.
Responsibility for checking each player's status:
- Firstly the responsibility of each player before arriving at the rehearsal or performance venue (St Pauls or other)
- Orchestra: Section leader/ deputy or nominated player from section to ensure this is checked before entry into the rehearsal or performance venue (St Pauls or other)
Ensembles: Deputy coordinator or nominated players to ensure this is checked before entry into the rehearsal or performance venue (St Pauls or other)
Ventilation:
Main hall: Windows on both sides of main hall are opened during rehearsal. (Members to ensure windows are closed again after rehearsal to avoid invalidating insurance)
Lower hall: both internal doors propped open during rehearsal
Upper Hall: Windows opened during rehearsal (Members to ensure windows are closed again after rehearsal to avoid invalidating insurance)
Face coverings:
Members requested to wear face coverings when moving about indoors in the rehearsal or performance venue (St Pauls or other)
It is suggested that non-wind players consider wearing masks during rehearsals, ie. string, percussion players, conductors.
Social distance:
Maintain 2m between rows of wind players when seated based on May 2021 paper
Maintain 1m for all other players during rehearsals and for all members when moving around the venue.
In smaller areas, for example, such as side door disabled toilet lobby, minimise overcrowding by limiting to 3 people at any one time in this space.
Extra vigilance is needed in communal areas where non-MRCO groups may flow through and may or may not be observing similar protocols.
Cleaning more often:
Please BRING YOUR OWN HAND SANITISER and OWN SURFACE CLEANING PRODUCT wherever possible.
CLEAN HANDS REGULARLY and after touching communal surfaces: wash your hands with soap and water for atleast 20 seconds or use hand sanitiser
CLEAN SURFACES: wipe any surface droplets have landed after blowing your instrument/ deeper breathing after playing your instrument - can apply to string players too if not wearing a mask.
Courtesy of Janet Walker (St Paul's rep in MRCO) MRCO enjoys a reduced rental rate. This arrangement requires MRCO members to leave the church clean AFTER use.
ALL MEMBERS are responsible for ensuring they clean after themselves including use of toilet facilities and cleaning communal surfaces such as door handles.
REFERENCES:
- Making Music
- UK Government: Understanding Coronavirus: how to stay safe
- Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority is not currently an area receiving enhanced response to COVID 19, Visit Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority's website for updates.
