Assessing the Risk of Music Activities During the COVID-19 Pandemic Leads to a Chance of 1 In 1.9 Million of Contracting COVID-19 In a Music Class

August 13, 2021

USITT provided funding for the International Performing Arts Aerosol Transmission Study and these are the results of the work.

-Dr. Mark Spede, professor of music at Clemson University and president of the College Band Directors
National Association (CBDNA)

-Dr. James Weaver, Director of Performing Arts at the National Federation of State High School
Associations (NFHS)

Statistical Analysis by:

-Dr. Whitney Huang, assistant professor, School of Math & Statistical Sciences at Clemson University

"We believe the International Performing Arts Aerosol Transmission Study is accurate, however every situation has unique elements and decision-makers should consult with their state or local health departments.

Since April 2020 the International Coalition Performing Arts Aerosol Study has worked to determine how aerosol moves through high exhalation music activity such as playing wind instruments and singing and speaking. The study was initiated as the onset of the SARS CoV-2 pandemic was accompanied by a number of super-spreader events including a community choral rehearsal. The study had two primary goals 1) identify aerosol levels from performing arts activities and 2) identify potential mitigations and their effectiveness. The study specifically studied aerosol that could potentially spread COVID-19, but did not study the live virus. The first set of recommendations was released on July 13, 2020, with updates following on August 6, 2020 and November 13, 2020, and provided guidance to thousands of performing arts groups around the world. Current recommended mitigations can be found here. On April 15, 2021, "Measurements and Simulations of Aerosol Released while Singing and Playing Wind Instruments," was released; the paper may be read here. As the study continues, more papers will be released."

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