COVID-19 Updates
The Washington Department of Health (DOH) and Public Health – Seattle & King County (PHSKC) updated their quarantine and isolation guidance for individuals who test positive for COVID-19 or are close contacts. This guidance aligns with the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) recent recommendation to reduce quarantine and isolation time from 10 days to 5 days when certain criteria are met. A summary of these changes are now in effect for The Academy of Music & Dance, are listed below.
Students, teachers, and staff who come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 need to quarantine for at least 5 days after their last close contact if they are in any one of the following groups:
They are not vaccinated or have not completed a primary vaccine series.
Ages 18 or older and completed the primary series of recommended vaccine, but have not received a recommended booster shot when eligible.
They received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine (completing the primary series) over 2 months ago and have not received a recommended booster shot.
Staff and students who are required to quarantine may not return to the Studio until they obtain a negative test result from a test taken no sooner than day 5 following exposure.
Students, teachers, and staff who come into close contact with someone with COVID-19 do not need to quarantine if they are in any one of the following groups:
Ages 5-17 years and completed the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines.
Ages 18 or older and have received all recommended vaccine doses, including boosters and additional primary shots for some immunocompromised people.
Had confirmed COVID-19 within the last 90 days.
All people with COVID-19 (with or without symptoms) need to isolate for at least 5 days.
For students, teachers, and staff who have COVID-19 and have or had symptoms:
They can end isolation after 5 days if they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms have improved.
If the person meets these criteria, they can return to school after 5 days of isolation, but must continue to wear a mask out in the community for an additional 5 days. This applies to anyone with COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status.
If they continue to have a fever or other symptoms have not improved after 5 days of isolation, they should wait to end isolation until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication and other symptoms have improved.
For students, teachers, and staff who test positive for COVID-19 and never develop symptoms:
Isolate for at least 5 days. Day 0 is the day of the positive COVID-19 test and day 1 is the first full day after the specimen was collected for the positive test.
If they continue to have no symptoms, they can end isolation after at least 5 days, but must continue to wear a mask out in the community for an additional 5 days. This applies to anyone with COVID-19, regardless of their vaccination status.
If they develop symptoms after testing positive, the 5-day isolation period should start over. Day 0 is the first day of symptoms.
For additional information on the updated Quarantine and Isolation guidance, please visit the CDC’s Frequently Asked Questions page here.
We believe that Music lessons and dance classes are a vital part of your child’s growth as a person and artist. We are truly grateful that we still have the opportunity to do that. With your help in following these guidelines, we can make dance and music safe and accessible!
Procedures
Wellness checks
• The Academy is a Youth Protection Advocates in Dance™ Certified Studio. Additionally, all teachers and staff members will receive regular and continuing safety training as it relates to preventing community spread of COVID-19
• All staff members are wellness checked before their shift. Below are the questions everyone must answer no to upon entering our facilities:
-Have you had any close contact with a confirmed case of COVID recently?
-Are you experiencing any shortness of breath, coughing, or sore throat?
-Have you had a fever in the past 48 hours?
-Have you experienced any lost of taste or smell within the last 48 hours?
-Have you recently experience any vomiting or diarrhea?
• Parents are asked to not send their children to class if they, or a member of their household, have a fever or respiratory symptoms. Instead they are asked to attend class virtually.
• Parents are asked not to send their children to class if they, or a member of their household, have tested positive for COVID-19. Instead, they are asked to attend class virtually. See above CDC recommendations for returning to class.
Hand Hygiene
• Employees will wash hands and/or sanitize before and after each class.
• Hand sanitizer will be available outside of all entrances, outside of every classroom, and inside the classrooms. Students will be required to wash hands and/or sanitize before and after classes.
• Hand washing posters are posted within bathrooms.
ENHANCED CLEANING PROCEDURES
• We have increased our cleaning frequencies and sanitation procedures in high traffic areas and high touch surfaces of the studio such as doors, barres, floors, counters, stereos, pianos, and bathrooms. Additionally we have invested in fog machines to disinfect with Hypochlorous Acid (HCO1) at the end of the day. “HCO1 comprises many of the desired effects of the ideal disinfectant: It is easy to use, is inexpensive, has a good safety profile, and can be used to disinfect large areas quickly and with a broad range of bactericidal and virucidal effects.” -Hypochlorous Acid, A review
Enhanced ventilation and air purification systems
In addition to using fog machines to kill airborne and aerosol virus particles, we have invested extensively in Medical grade air purifiers to increase ventilation and filter out virus particles that may be in the air. “H13 Medical Grade HEPA - Captures 99.9% of particles down to 0.1 microns. Commonly referred to as ‘medical grade filtration’ as it relates to the purity of the air filtered.” -MedifyAir
FACILITY & CURRICULAR ADJUSTMENTS
• All lobby waiting areas, and children’s play spaces will be closed unless specified.
• Please bring clearly labeled water bottles. Our water fountains are closed and no water cups will be provided.
• Dancers will bring all dance bags into the studio for changing shoes. Dancers are asked to only bring necessary items with them into the studio.
• Classrooms may have staggered dismissal (5 minutes) to allow for student transitions, especially with our younger classes.
BATHROOM USE
• We encourage all students to use the restroom at home before coming to class.
MASKS
• Our employees may be wearing masks while working. Students are encouraged but not required to wear masks.
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
• Please enter using the main entrance for all classes in the classrooms, please use social distancing while you await entrance. Do not enter the building until directed by a staff member. At this time, we ask that parents wait in their cars or outside during classes to help with social distancing in the building. Parents of little dancers under age 5 are able to escort dancers to their classrooms if necessary for dancers comfort. But then must leave and wait outside or in their vehicles during class time.
• Please limit parent drop off to one person whenever possible. Sibling visitors cannot be accommodated during this term.
• Please exit using the same doors. Parents will be asked to wait outside for kids to be released. At the end of class, parents must be by the door to receive their child. Students cannot walk across the parking lot to go to their parents for safety reasons.
readjusting
The last 5 minutes of class will not be dedicated to instructional time, instead, this transition time will be used for packing up, making homework notes, cleaning and sanitizing, or checking in with parents if necessary.
We will continue to follow any government mandates and are committed to readjusting to keep our students, staff, and families at home as safe as possible.
We ask our students attending via Zoom to be respectful of this time as it pertains to students and staff safety.
Tech-enabled facilites
In this ever-changing situation, dance classes at The Academy will remain consistent! We're ready to teach in-person, in a hybrid, or through full distance learning.
All classes offered in-person and live-streamed with clear video and audio for students in-studio and at home.
Dancers who need to stay home for any reason can stay involved by logging in to class at home!