WEST BAY OPERA

COVID-19 SAFETY POLICY

To keep you and everyone in the West Bay Opera community safe from severe COVID-19 related illness, hospitalization or death, WBO has established this health safety policy for its 2023-2024 season. WBO requires everyone involved in a production (artists, production staff, front-of-house staff) to wear face masks at all times when in the theater and backstage. Performers are allowed to perform unmasked, but must put on masks as soon as they leave the stage. Orchestra members are not required to wear masks while participating in rehearsals or performances. Audience members are encouraged to wear masks while in the theater, but they are not required to do so.

Proof of Vaccination Requirement

• The requirement to show proof of vaccination has been eliminated.

COVID-19 Testing for Performers and Production Team

• Take a rapid test for COVID-19 

1. a couple of hours before joining the first in-person rehearsal or production call. 
2. anytime you first develop COVID-19-like symptoms during the production run.
3. Report all COVID-19 test results to WBO through the webpage (look under Blog)
4. WBO will reimburse $10 per test per person. In order to get reimbursed, all cast and production team members must enter results and upload a picture of the results strip the same day of the test. We will not accept backdated requests.

If You Have Symptoms or Test Positive

• Help keep us all safe and limit the spread of COVID-19 by:
• Staying home (a) if you have COVID-19 symptoms or (b) if you test positive for COVID-19.
• Avoiding in-person contact with other WBO performers or production team members following a positive COVID-19 test, until you (a) again test negative and (b) have a normal temperature reading at least 24 hours after testing negative.
• Notify your designated WBO Safety Team Member to discuss appropriate risk mitigation if:
• You are experiencing what you believe are COVID-19-like symptoms.
• You (a) test positive for COVID-19 or (b) you learn that you may have been exposed to COVID-19 (by someone who tested positive after having direct physical contact with you) and you are called to an in-person production, rehearsal, performance or performance event within 5 days of the moment of exposure.

Notes

1. Wind instrument players are exempt from the mask requirement while rehearsing or performing, but must wear a mask at all other times in the theater or rehearsal facilities. Singers will rehearse and perform unmasked once the production moves into the theater, but must be masked at all times when not onstage.

2. See other CDC guidance for individuals vaccinated outside the US or with special health conditions.

COVID - Safety Compliance Lead and Responsibilities: Max Koknar Production Manager

• Monitor and archive vaccination proof submissions
• Notify individuals of complete vaccination proof submissions
• Exercise reasonable judgement in approving minor deviations to this policy and notify appropriate Safety Team Member
• Report vaccination compliance gaps to other COVID-19 Safety Team Members for their area(s) or responsibility
• Escalate risks or non-compliance issues to General Director
• Monitor COVID-19 testing submissions and report any positive test results to appropriate Safety Team Member and to General Director for risk mitigation

COVID - Safety Compliance Coordinators

Chorus:  Joanne Bogart, Chorus Manager

Principal Singers: José Luis Moscovich, General Director

Orchestra:  Christy Crews, Orchestra Manager

Production Staff and Volunteers: Sarah Terman, Stage Manager

Responsibilities of Compliance Coordinators:

• Submit to Safety Compliance Lead names and email addresses of individuals subject to this policy
• Share with Safety Compliance Lead any suggestions for timing of vaccination compliance reports
• Assist Safety Compliance Lead in closing any vaccination compliance gaps for individual
• Escalate risks or non-compliance issues to the Safety Compliance Lead and eventually to the General Director 
• Develop risk mitigation plans for any reported positive COVID-19 tests, symptoms or likely exposures and notify General Director