Health Precautions

Initial release: January 16, 2024.
Revision date: July 16, 2024. All changes are indicated with the date of the change.

Introduction

The interdependencies of the coaching schedule make our program extremely vulnerable to any one person (or more) having to withdraw or leave due to illness. We have established these precautions based on the most current advice of our highly expert medical consultants for the purpose of protecting our community and reducing the risk of disruption to our coaching program.

In 2023, we followed a COVID-19 risk mitigation approach that included up-to-date vaccination, pre-arrival and on-campus rapid antigen testing, and indoor masking wherever non-Conference personnel were present. We believe our precautions played an important part in our full, four week program being entirely COVID-19 free – though we know of several other adult summer music programs that had to cut back their activities due to COVID-19 outbreaks.

Please read these 2024 precautions carefully, so that you have a complete awareness and understanding of what to expect of us and what we expect of you. Compliance is required for everyone at the Conference.

Because the risks are constantly evolving, some aspects of the precautions might be further revised closer to the time of the Conference. The precautions specified below are based on our understanding at this time. If any changes are required, all Conference attendees will be notified prior to the Conference. It is important that everyone who plans to attend the Conference commit to adhere to the precautions in effect when they attend.

July 16, 2024 Update (supersedes some aspects of the June 17, 2024 update):

• Due to the occurrence of several confirmed COVID-19 cases at Week 1, we are instituting the following changes to our precautions for the remainder of the 2024 Conference. As we learn more, we may make further refinements, and we will communicate them accordingly.
• We require that every attendee mask while indoors from Sunday through Wednesday of each week, except when in their own dorm room, when playing a wind instrument, or when eating or performing hygiene tasks that preclude masking. This revision affects item 2 below.
• We are performing a rapid antigen test on Wednesday of each week for all attendees. This revision affects item 3 below.
• We require that all attendees mask at all gatherings of the whole Conference (welcome meetings, musicales, and faculty concerts). This revision affects item 4 below.
• If you are diagnosed with COVID-19 during or shortly after your time at the Conference, we may disclose this fact to others who attended during the same week as you, to enable contact tracing. This revision adds item 10 below.

June 17, 2024 Update:

• When we developed the first version of these precautions in January, we deferred decisions regarding masking, testing, and events until closer to the time of the Conference. After consultation with medical experts, we have made decisions in these areas and have revised the precautions accordingly. These revisions affect items 2, 3, 4, and 8 below.
• CDC guidelines require at least five days of masking and distancing after a respiratory illness has been improving and fever-free for 24 hours, to prevent the spread of infection. Because every attendee at the Conference is scheduled for coachings, rehearsals, and/or performances with many other attendees, any cases at the Conference could have extremely disruptive effects on the Conference as a whole. Therefore, we have focused on minimizing the chances that COVID-19 is brought to the Conference (via pre-arrival precautions, testing, and symptom-reporting) and on detecting cases at the Conference (via symptom reporting and testing on site).
• Though the Conference remains highly vulnerable to the disruptions caused by illness, we are placing the responsibility for detecting and reporting symptoms and test results in the hands of our attendees, and we ask for your diligence in looking out for the welfare of your friends, colleagues, and community members by taking this responsibility very seriously.

2024 Precautions

1. Vaccination: We require that all Conference attendees be up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccinations as of June 16 (three weeks before the Conference), and we require documentation of each person’s up-to-date status. The definition of “up-to-date” will follow the CDC recommendations as of April 30, 2024, which means receiving a COVID-19 vaccination on 9/12/23 or later. The vaccine may be from Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna. Novavax is also an option if you have previously been vaccinated for COVID-19.
   
   In May 2024, the CDC updated their definition of “up-to-date” to include a 2nd vaccine dose for those aged 65 years and older. Because of the timing of this change we are not requiring the 2nd vaccine for our attendees. If you do get an additional dose and have already provided documentation of one dose, you do not need to submit additional documentation.
   
   
2. Masking (revised July 16, 2024 to add masking requirements):
   • From Sunday through Wednesday of each week, all attendees must mask while indoors, except when in their own dorm room, when playing a wind instrument, or when eating or performing hygiene tasks that preclude masking. The bullets that follow apply for the entirety of each week.
   • For attendees of week 2 or week 3 who are staying beyond that week, the above masking requirement applies for the entirety of the week.
   • The items that follow apply to all attendees for the entirety of each week.
   • Masking is required at all CMC events that involve non-CMC attendees. This includes the dining hall, except while you are eating, and at faculty concerts, which will be open to the public.
   • All attendees must mask at all gatherings of the whole Conference (welcome meetings, musicales, and faculty concerts).
   • As noted in item 7 below, masking is requested off campus when you are indoors and in proximity to non-CMC people.
   • When masks are required, they must be well-fitting N95, KN95, or KF94 masks without valves.
3. Testing (revised July 16, 2024 to add mid-week antigen testing):
   • In order to minimize the chance that you bring COVID-19 to the Conference: You must acquire and self-administer two rapid antigen tests before you travel to the Conference. You will take these tests 2 days before you arrive at the Conference and the day that you will arrive at the Conference. For almost everyone, this means self-testing on Friday and Sunday before you come to the Conference. You are responsible for procuring the kits for these tests. Along with the result of each test, you will also be asked to report whether you have any symptoms of respiratory illness. Every attendee will receive an email detailing these requirements. We also ask for extra caution during the days leading up your arrival at the Conference (see item 6 below).
   • At the Conference: We will not administer COVID-19 tests on your arrival unless you forget to take your rapid antigen test before leaving home. We will administer rapid antigen tests to all attendees on Wednesday of each week. The Conference will provide the test kits for any tests that we administer on site during the Conference.
4. Large Gatherings and Social Events (revised July 16, 2024 to add masking requirements):
   • Faculty concerts will be open to the public, and masking is required for all audience members.
   • Seminars will not be open to the public.
   • Conference social events will be primarily outdoors, with refreshments provided under a tent.
   • No Conference meetings will take place over meals.
5. Symptom and Exposure Monitoring Before the Conference: If you experience any of the following within ten days prior to your planned arrival at the Conference, we require that you notify us as soon as possible:
   • positive COVID-19 test
   • COVID-19 symptoms (CDC’s list can be seen here)
   • close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19
   • being directed to isolate or quarantine
   • cold-like symptoms, even if testing negative for COVID-19
6. Pre-arrival Precautions: For at least one week before your arrival at the Conference, we ask that you be particularly mindful of activities that can increase your exposure to COVID-19 and other illnesses, including:
   • indoor eating/drinking at restaurants or bars
   • gatherings with people other than those in your household
   • being unmasked indoors with people other than members of your household, including during travel
7. Interacting with Non-Conference People: While at the Conference, in order to reduce exposure for those at the Conference with you, we request that you minimize interactions with people not enrolled with the Conference, including off-campus outings. If you do leave campus, we ask that you use an abundance of caution, that you mask while indoors with other people, and that you dine outdoors where possible.
   
   
8. Symptoms and Exposure While At the Conference (revised June 17, 2024): You must notify us as soon as possible if, while at the Conference, you experience either of the following:
   • COVID-19 symptoms (CDC’s list can be seen here)
   • close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19
   • cold-like symptoms, even if testing negative for COVID-19
   If an attendee has or develops symptoms that could indicate COVID-19, the Conference will administer a rapid molecular COVID-19 test as part of determining whether the illness is COVID-19. Any confirmed instance of COVID-19 at the Conference will require masking, isolation, and departing the Conference. If confirmed not to have COVID-19, an attendee with symptoms may be required to mask, distance, isolate, and possibly depart the Conference, depending on the symptoms, the attendee’s medical situation, and the progression of symptoms.
   
   
9. Symptoms and Diagnosis After Departing the Conference: It is an extremely important requirement for the safety of the Conference community that you notify us as soon as possible if, within ten days after departing the Conference, you experience any COVID-19 symptoms, or you are diagnosed with COVID-19.
   
   
10. Contact Tracing (added July 16, 2024): To enable identification of close contacts, should you be diagnosed with COVID-19 during or shortly after your stay at the Conference, we may disclose your name and the fact that you have been diagnosed to others who attended the same week of the Conference.