MVO COVID-19 Safety Guidelines (as of January 14, 2022)
As we begin 2022, we want to assure everyone that the Safety Team remains vigilant to the Covid-19 guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
1. Vaccination OR Negative COVID-19 Test Requirement.
Currently, MVO only admits musicians and audiences who are either fully vaccinated OR can provide proof of negative COVID-19 PCR test 72 hours prior to any in-person MVO activities.
Definition of Fully Vaccinated Against Covid-19 for Orchestra Musicians and Audience:
For persons 18 and older, a primary series consists of:
For children 5 years through 17 years of age, a primary series consists of 2-doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
* The MVO Safety Team highly encourages everyone to get a Covid-19 booster dose. According to the CDC, studies show after getting vaccinated against COVID-19, protection decreases over time and may also be decreased due to changes in circulating variants. The recent emergence of the Omicron variant further increases the importance of vaccination and boosters to protect against COVID-19. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html
Additional resource: Vaccine Finder
https://www.vaccines.gov/search/
https://mnvaccinehunters.com/start-here/
Helpful Tip: If anyone is having difficulties finding boosters, look north (Forest Lake) or south (Faribault) of town
2. Face Masks
Use of a face mask is required at all times during rehearsals and concerts. Wind and brass players must wear a face mask when they are not playing their instrument (ie. a period of rest in the music). All MVO musicians will enter indoor rehearsal and concert spaces fully masked.
3. COVID-19 Quarantine Guidelines
A. Tested positive for COVID-19
Fill out the MVO Absence Notification Form. According to the current CDC guidelines, you should isolate for at least 5 days. If you are:
1. A wind/brass player: you must isolate for a total of 10 days regardless of symptoms or vaccination status due to the removal of face masks while playing. Find a sub as soon as you can, if possible.
2. Not a wind/brass player AND asymptomatic: you may attend MVO activities after 5 days of isolation. Wear a well-fitting mask at all times.
3. Not a wind/brass player AND symptomatic: you may attend MVO activities 5 days after your symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours). Wear a well-fitting mask at all times.
B. Exposed (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) to someone who tested positive for COVID-19
Fill out the MVO Absence Notification Form. According to current CDC guidelines, you should take a COVID-19 test on day 5 after exposure if possible. If you develop symptoms, get tested immediately and stay home. Follow "Tested positive for COVID-19" guidelines if you test positive for COVID-19. If you are:
1. A wind/brass player: regardless of vaccination status, you must refrain from coming to in-person MVO activities for 10 days after exposure due to the removal of face masks while playing, OR present a negative PCR test taken 5 days after exposure. Find a sub as soon as you can, if possible.
2. Not a wind/brass player AND any of the following - a. Have been boosted; b. Completed 2 doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months; c. Completed 1 dose of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine within the last 2 months; d. Have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days: you may attend in-person MVO activities. Wear a well-fitting mask at all times.
3. Not a wind/brass player AND any of the following - a. Not fully vaccinated; b. Completed Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted; c. Completed Johnson & Johnson's vaccine over 2 months ago and are not boosted: you should quarantine for 5 days. Wear a well-fitting mask at all times when you resume in-person MVO activities.
C. Experiencing symptoms congruent with COVID-19
Symptoms congruent with COVID-19 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
- Diarrhea
If you experience these symptoms, fill out the MVO Absence Notification Form. Please stay home until symptoms subside and get tested immediately. Follow "Tested positive for COVID-19" guidelines if you test positive for COVID-19.
1. Vaccination OR Negative COVID-19 Test Requirement.
Currently, MVO only admits musicians and audiences who are either fully vaccinated OR can provide proof of negative COVID-19 PCR test 72 hours prior to any in-person MVO activities.
Definition of Fully Vaccinated Against Covid-19 for Orchestra Musicians and Audience:
For persons 18 and older, a primary series consists of:
- A 2-dose series of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), or
- A single-dose COVID-19 vaccine (Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine)
For children 5 years through 17 years of age, a primary series consists of 2-doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.
* The MVO Safety Team highly encourages everyone to get a Covid-19 booster dose. According to the CDC, studies show after getting vaccinated against COVID-19, protection decreases over time and may also be decreased due to changes in circulating variants. The recent emergence of the Omicron variant further increases the importance of vaccination and boosters to protect against COVID-19. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html
Additional resource: Vaccine Finder
https://www.vaccines.gov/search/
https://mnvaccinehunters.com/start-here/
Helpful Tip: If anyone is having difficulties finding boosters, look north (Forest Lake) or south (Faribault) of town
2. Face Masks
Use of a face mask is required at all times during rehearsals and concerts. Wind and brass players must wear a face mask when they are not playing their instrument (ie. a period of rest in the music). All MVO musicians will enter indoor rehearsal and concert spaces fully masked.
3. COVID-19 Quarantine Guidelines
A. Tested positive for COVID-19
Fill out the MVO Absence Notification Form. According to the current CDC guidelines, you should isolate for at least 5 days. If you are:
1. A wind/brass player: you must isolate for a total of 10 days regardless of symptoms or vaccination status due to the removal of face masks while playing. Find a sub as soon as you can, if possible.
2. Not a wind/brass player AND asymptomatic: you may attend MVO activities after 5 days of isolation. Wear a well-fitting mask at all times.
3. Not a wind/brass player AND symptomatic: you may attend MVO activities 5 days after your symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours). Wear a well-fitting mask at all times.
B. Exposed (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more) to someone who tested positive for COVID-19
Fill out the MVO Absence Notification Form. According to current CDC guidelines, you should take a COVID-19 test on day 5 after exposure if possible. If you develop symptoms, get tested immediately and stay home. Follow "Tested positive for COVID-19" guidelines if you test positive for COVID-19. If you are:
1. A wind/brass player: regardless of vaccination status, you must refrain from coming to in-person MVO activities for 10 days after exposure due to the removal of face masks while playing, OR present a negative PCR test taken 5 days after exposure. Find a sub as soon as you can, if possible.
2. Not a wind/brass player AND any of the following - a. Have been boosted; b. Completed 2 doses of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine within the last 6 months; c. Completed 1 dose of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine within the last 2 months; d. Have recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days: you may attend in-person MVO activities. Wear a well-fitting mask at all times.
3. Not a wind/brass player AND any of the following - a. Not fully vaccinated; b. Completed Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over 6 months ago and are not boosted; c. Completed Johnson & Johnson's vaccine over 2 months ago and are not boosted: you should quarantine for 5 days. Wear a well-fitting mask at all times when you resume in-person MVO activities.
C. Experiencing symptoms congruent with COVID-19
Symptoms congruent with COVID-19 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
- Diarrhea
If you experience these symptoms, fill out the MVO Absence Notification Form. Please stay home until symptoms subside and get tested immediately. Follow "Tested positive for COVID-19" guidelines if you test positive for COVID-19.
