Reentry Following COVID-19: Concerns for Singers
The effectiveness of the two-dose COVID-19 vaccines has made reentry to in-person teaching, learning, and performing possible, despite singers’ special vulnerabilities to SARS-CoV-2 due to the virus’ airborne transmission route and the high-aerosol generating nature of singing. A number of factors may complicate a return to pre-pandemic conditions. This article provides resources to help teachers, singers, and collaborative pianists safely and ethically navigate a return to in-person singing by considering the following: effectiveness of vaccination and mask use; an update on aerosol risk; environmental risk factors and mitigation; the intersection of the privacy laws FERPA and HIPAA and vaccine hesitancy, and the psychological risks of reentry following the pandemic.