Hi Folks :) I was hoping to chime in too. Although likely not as eloquently as I would like.
I really appreciated Chrissy's email about being open and this being a place of learning. I really value talking with and learning from other organizers. It's great to hear various perspectives. In my own little microcosm of the Ottawa Ontario area, I see varying perspectives. The Ottawa Contra Dance community (which has been dancing for around 30 years and which I helped organize for a decade) still has mandatory masks. I know there are differing views in that community. And there's a new dance series 40min north of here in the Quebec Hills which I'm calling at. At that event, there are 70-100 people and virtually no one is wearing a mask. There's not even any communication about masks or vaccines. I'm sure there are at least a few people who aren't coming because there are no masks ... on the other hand... this is a brand new series filled with so much joy and it's super multi-generational and bringing in both the francophone and anglophone communities as well as some members of the LGBTQ2 community. Further afield, I see Montreal Contra being very clear in their communication that masks are required, and then no masks being worn at the Quebec Contra dances. I danced recently in Syracuse and I personally appreciated their policy. https://syracusecountrydancers.org/covid-19-mitigation-protocols/ I wanted to add one last perspective that I think it a bit interesting. Last year, I had stage 3 breast cancer and so underwent 4 months of pretty serious chemo where my immune system was REALLY low. There was absolutely no way I was going to go to a dance, even if everyone was masked. It's just my perspective for that window of time, but I was happy other people were dancing period .... and it didn't bother me that there were dances happening where people were unmasked and I couldn't go. There were lots of things I couldn't do but I appreciated that those folks were having fun in different ways. Again.. just my perspective. I think it's wonderful that communities choosing different practices... what feels best for their series and their community. It's wonderful to hear the variety of responses in these very unusual times. :) Emily n Ottawa On Wed, Apr 12, 2023 at 9:10 AM Woody Lane via Organizers < [email protected]> wrote: > Hi Everyone, > > Seth suggested a 2-day cooling off period before any new posts on this > topic. A good idea. I am traveling in Australia right now, and between the > 200 different time zones, the switch to standard time from daylight savings > time, and the international date line, it’s taken me about 2 days to figure > out the 2-day lag. In any case, hoping enough time has passed, I'd like to > add some thoughts about this issue that may be helpful for those who have > the difficult responsibilities of trying to make decisions about their > dances. > > If we are considering ending or changing the covid rules for our dances, > there are some basic things that can underlie our decisions: > > * Covid is a respiratory disease. It invades the body through mucous > membranes in the mouth, nose, and sometimes the eyes. > * The virus spreads primarily through droplets and aerosols expelled > through the mouth and nose. But virus particles can be easily diluted and > dispersed by wind, including good air movement. > * Contra dancing is an activity where people breathe on each other, > interacting with many people in a short period of time, over and over > again. Sometimes breathing hard. Nearly always indoors. > * CDC guidelines are not based on contra dancing. Even in medical > facilities, patients, doctors, and nurses do not swing each other, breathe > into each others' faces, and change partners every 35 seconds (at least I > hope not). Guidelines for medical facilities are not directly relevant to > contra dances. > * The current variants of this coronavirus are much more transmissible > than the earlier variants. Meaning that data from the pre-delta/pre-omicron > period may be misleading and not properly relevant to today's circumstances. > * Vaccinated people can indeed get infected and sick with covid, but in > general their transmissible phase (when they can infect others) is a day or > so shorter and usually contains lower levels of the virus, compared to > unvaccinated people. > * The current covid statistics from the CDC and other agencies have some > serious problems. While the reported rates of deaths and hospitalizations > are probably accurate, the reported rates of infection (derived from > testing) are systematically biased low because so many people now test at > home without officially reporting the results. > > So, after three years of not dancing together and/or complying with covid > restrictions of requiring vaccinations, wearing masks, etc -- well, here > are my thoughts -- > > * Masks are still critical in contra dances. The general infection rate is > higher than officially reported. Especially important for people vulnerable > to being infected. (This is in the U.S. Other countries with higher > vaccination rates may have much lower infection rates.). The protection > with masks goes both ways. > > * Vaccinations -- not so much, especially if people wear good masks (N95 > or equivalent) and the mask requirement is enforced. Also, people who have > been sick recently with covid are well-protected from having a > transmissible virus load. (The operative word here is "recently". But the > practical question is the definition of “recently”.) > > * Air movement in the room -- this item has not been emphasized enough, > although it's extremely important. And it’s something that dance groups can > directly improve at their dances. Open windows, multiple fans, etc. Also, > dance organizers can easily monitor air movement with a carbon dioxide > sensor (portable sensors are available for less than $100). Place one in a > room and see what happens during the dance evening. CO2 is heavier than > air. People breathe out CO2. Therefore, CO2 levels in a room can be a proxy > for the risk of covid transmission because CO2 levels reflect the amount of > air movement. Atmospheric CO2 levels are around 413 ppm. If the air doesn't > move much, CO2 levels will quickly rise during a dance evening, sometimes > to more than 1,000 ppm. If the CO2 level can be maintained below 600 ppm, > this probably indicates that air is circulating relatively efficiently, > which reduces the risk of viral particle buildup. Keeping the CO2 level > near 413 ppm is even better. (It’s a well-known fact, for example, that > exhaled coronaviruses are not very transmissible in a 40-mph prevailing > wind.) > > * Mandatory reporting – need to know if any dancers experience covid > symptoms or test positive soon after a dance event. Collecting this > information is awkward and cumbersome, probably pie-in-the-sky, but it > would be a good statistic. And provide assurance to everyone, especially > over time. > > Long and complex, but just my two cents. > Woody > > Woody Lane > Caller, Percussive Dancer, Event Organizer > Roseburg, OR > _______________________________________________ > > -----Original Message----- > From: Lisa Sieverts via Organizers <[email protected]> > Sent: Friday, April 7, 2023 11:34 PM > To: A list for dance organizers <[email protected]> > Subject: [Organizers] Is it time to change our mask mandates? > > Hello fellow organizers, > > I have been a big proponent of our dance mask mandates and feel we have > prevented quite a bit of COVID spread by requiring good facemasks. > > However, our local hospital has announced that after 3 years of a mask > mandate for everyone entering their building (it’s both a hospital and a > medical center), they are lifting the mandate on April 10 for anyone > asymptomatic and who hasn’t had a recent COVID contact. > > Our board will be discussing this soon but I am very curious about what > other organizers think. Is it time? And what should be our criteria for > lifting our mandates? > > Best, > Lisa > Monadnock Folklore Society > Nelson, NH > > Lisa Sieverts > 603-762-0235 > [email protected] > _______________________________________________ > Organizers mailing list -- [email protected] To > unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > _______________________________________________ > Organizers mailing list -- [email protected] > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] >
_______________________________________________ Organizers mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected]
