December 2023 — Present

COVID Policy

This is the COVID policy by which the Fog City Singers will be abiding in 2023, at least until further notice. It was developed by Dr. Matt Fellows, M.D., who sings in the Fog City Singers and has been guiding our COVID policy since 2021. Consider this page an ongoing reference for both prospective members and current members alike.

THE MOST IMPORTANT POINT:

Coming to an FCS-related activity implies taking on both a level of risk and a level of responsibility. There is a risk that you can get sick no matter the extent of our mitigation measures. In fact, it is likely we will still have transmission events going forward. At the same time, you have a responsibility to your fellow musicians to take reasonable measures to protect everyone in the room.

OVERVIEW

Our COVID policies are based on a few principles:

  1. We want to continue to take reasonable and responsible precautions while maximizing the musical benefit and experience of us as a singing community.

  2. We rely on scientific information and epidemiological data to help guide us. We don’t listen to anecdotes or politics.

  3. Any individual approach to risk reduction that is more conservative than our general guidance will be supported.

  4. We will continue to update guidance and recommendations based on changes in the local situation.

MEASURES

The Fog City Singers will be implementing or continuing the following mitigation measures. Reasoning is included for each:

  1. We highly encourage all individuals singing or visiting with us to get the yearly COVID and Influenza vaccines.

    1. Vaccination functionally makes the risk of getting hospitalized or dying from COVID less than the risk from driving your car.

    2. Vaccination reduces your chances of contracting COVID, reduces your chances of spreading COVID, and shortens the infectious period if you do get COVID.

    3. Vaccination is completely safe and easy to access.

  2. Anyone experiencing any COVID-like symptoms should skip rehearsal and stay home. This includes a cough, fever, new congestion, sore throat, body aches, loss of taste or smell, or headache.

    1. Obvious reasoning here. We don’t want COVID—or any other viral contagious disease for that matter.

  3. It is recommended that everyone in attendance do a rapid-antigen test within four hours prior to each rehearsal, especially if you are at risk of spreading COVID to others before coming to sing unmasked.

    1. We will not be requiring proof or gatekeeping around these tests. Please use your best judgment to determine if you should test.

    2. Rapid antigen tests are not foolproof, and false-negatives are common in early infection, but it does give us the opportunity to detect a highly contagious individual before they realize it.

    3. These tests are readily available at any drug store.

  4. Masks are optional, but any individual who wants to wear a well-fitting mask is free to do so. Indeed, anyone’s decision to wear a mask or social distance, will be fully encouraged and supported by chorus leadership and by everyone in attendance.

    1. We expect this to be a very personal decision for most people.

    2. We want to maximize the singing experience.

    3. This decision may be different for each person week-to-week based on their individual circumstances, who they’re planning to be around, where they’re traveling, where they’ve traveled, their personal health, etc…

    4. KF94, KN95, or N95 are the most effective and recommended for personal protection in an indoor environment. Cloth masks or surgical masks are mostly ineffective at protecting yourself.

Dr. Matt is of course available if you have any questions! Contact him via contact@fogcitysingers.com.

— Compiled by Dr. Matt Fellows, M.D.