2. However, we’re not sure how that translates to very local situations since the spread could still come from outside of your community. Please provide the CDC link that says masked indoor singing is OK. Also, has anyone seen any guidance for the new guidelines for vaccinated people? Drive-in/parking lot church: This is the safer model of religious service where social distancing may be maintained. That’s the only rate that matters. Total US Population Vaccination Percentage Safe Congregational Singing: National Threshold = 70% to 85% of population fully vaccinated Current National Vaccination Rate = 37.3% (as […] The warning was part of new guidance for leaders of faith-based organizations that the CDC had posted last Friday. These sector specific COVID-19 safety standards for Places of Worship and Religious Services are issued to provide instructions to help … This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. What if I know that over 80% of the people in the church building are fully vaccinated? If so, please provide the link. But that wording disappeared over the weekend, apparently because the White House had not approved it. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of all the cookies. As NPR reported, the CDC said "usability improvements," such as a new headline on its page about preventing viral infection, caused confusion about whether its guidelines have changed about how the coronavirus spreads. Upstate NY Synod ELCA COVID-19 Guidelines; Upper New York Conference United Methodist Church Reopening Guidelines; The Episcopal Diocese of Western NY COVID-19 Updates and Guidelines COVID-19 General Resources. MIAMI, Fla. — With the CDC now saying it’s OK for vaccinated people to drop the mask and social distancing in most situations, you may be wondering what that means if … IN LIGHT OF TODAY’s CDC UNMASKING – What is the guidance given to congregational singing? FULLY vaccinated Americans can go to church, bars, and packed sports events without a mask, according to new federal guidance issued on Thursday. Good question! Presently pastors speaking unmasked for 25 minutes seem to be deemed safe but a 4 minute solo by a trained soprano is freaking people out. We know that when a large region (like the U.S.) reaches 75 to 80% vaccination, we’ll have what’s referred to as “herd immunity,” which means the spread of the virus will be minimized to a point where it does not pose an active threat. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html. Is there updated guidance regarding singing now that the CDC has stated that vaccinated people do not need to wear masks in small or large groups anymore? Where did the target of 70-85% come from? What do we care about the NATIONAL vaccination rate. CDC / Screenshot by NPR We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Is this threshold we are looking at for singing with masks or without, or does it make a difference? Any thoughts on guidelines for *outdoor* and socially distanced song? In this photo from last summer, a choir sings at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. The agency changed the prominence of its guidance about surface spread of the coronavirus, saying that the main means of transmission is person-to-person. We’ll be open for business and singing with masks. The CDC has now specifically stated as of May 12 that it is safe for fully-vaccinated people to sing in an indoor chorus and attend a full-capacity worship service with no mask and no distancing. This seems incongruous to me. Do you have a source for “Currently, it is safe to sing together at a distance of 10 to 12 feet apart and masked. One has to assume that either of these events may include people who are not vaccinated (and who should therefore wear a mask and maintain a 6-ft distance). But 53 cases of coronavirus infection were later identified. Thank you. NFSHSA), Mark Spede (Clemson, Pres. CDC’s considerations to help communities of faith learn how to practice their beliefs while keeping their staff and congregations safe. Only one person out of the 61 people who attended the March 10 practice was known to be symptomatic, researchers said. NPR's Selena Simmons-Duffin contributed to this report. This is the threshold for when the whole country should be able to sing together unmasked and without social distancing. Mandatory safety standards, recommended best practices and a checklist for places of worship. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7875408/, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02786826.2020.1812502, https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/wise-sing-christmas-carols/, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/24/health/herd-immunity-covid-coronavirus.html, https://congregationalsong.org/covid-19-nfhs-study-update/, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html. New CDC guidelines say it is now safe to sing indoors masked. Yes. So glad you all are tracking your local rate. I am curious now that masks are not needed outdoors if they are still recommending masked singing and social distancing while singing outdoors. FULLY vaccinated Americans can go to church, bars, and packed sports events without a mask, according to new federal guidance issued on Thursday. Also what if we know the vaccinate rate of our specific congregation, if that is above 80% does that mean we can sing safely? This information is priceless! The act of singing may contribute to transmission of COVID-19, possibly through emission of aerosols.". Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The CDC doesn't explicitly recommend that when students are in choir, they should wear masks, despite the dangers the agency has reported with singing. Promote healthy behaviors and maintain healthy environments to reduce risk when large events and gatherings are held. When it his 80%. Until May 28th, religious services are encouraged to follow the best practices described in the the Forward Virginia Guidelines.. Services which host greater than 100 individuals indoors or 250 individuals outdoors must follow the requirements described in the Guidelines for Religious Services, which describes requirements for shared items, regular cleaning, and social distancing requirements. Brian Hehn just wrote a blog synthesizing the NFCS study as it pertains to congregational song. Burton & Weaver and possibly Brian Hehn), who have likely heard of this team’s work (which is supported by 31 national and international organizations on singing and music). The CDC has also come under scrutiny in recent days for other revisions to its website. In Feb. & early March, our church worked with them to develop a Brief offering guidance on when, how and where to sing safely. Actions that communities can take to slow the spread of COVID-19. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. catholic news service; Worshippers pray during a bilingual memorial Mass March 13, 2021, for parishioners who have died from COVID-19 at St. John-Visitation Church … However “masked” means properly fitted masks worn correctly the entire time (which is very difficult if not impossible to regular for an entire congregation). Totally on the fence about what to do with my choir; we have been practicing masked, distanced and short durations in large rooms since November. We are at 34% vaccinated (US), and according to this graphic, we need to be at 80% to safely sing, but that’s not what the science is telling us now. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Aerosol emission during speech has been correlated with loudness of vocalization, and certain persons, who release an order of magnitude more particles than their peers, have been referred to as superemitters and have been hypothesized to contribute to superspeading events. National Threshold = 70% to 85% of population fully vaccinated, Current National Vaccination Rate = 37.3% (as of May 18th, 2021), Most up-to-date (and more specific state-by-state) stats can be found here: CDC COVID Data Tracker. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. For more information, visit About COVID-19 Vaccine . Herd immunity (which makes singing safer) is reached through a combination of vaccination and infection, not only vaccination. In clarifying the agency's guidance, a CDC spokesman said the agency's language about transmission had not changed. There are no upcoming events at this time.