MSA COVID-19 AGREEMENT AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Metropolitan School of the Arts will continue to monitor COVID-19 policies and procedures with support from the MSA COVID-19 Response Task Force. In modifying policies, MSA strives to balance scientific research, CDC guidance, and health department recommendations and requirements in addition to government directives at the federal, state, and local levels. Therefore, classes and performances may be in person, virtual or a mixture of both at any point during the year. We must insist that each of us, including specifically those entering our MSA facilities, commit ourselves to doing our part to help keep each other safe.

First, familiarize yourself with the following list of known symptoms of COVID-19:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body ache
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

HEALTH/PERSONAL INFORMATION

SAFETY GUIDELINES AND PROCEDURES

ENHANCED CLEANING & AIR CIRCULATION

Cleaning frequency and procedures include the following:

• EPA approved cleaning solutions
• Daily evening cleaning of the entire facility

Air quality improvements

• We have conducted an air quality inspection of our facility with a licensed contractor that included a review of our HVAC system
• HVAC filters have been upgraded and some units entirely replaced.
• GPS’ NPBI technology upgrade has been added to replaced units. GPS’ patented NPBI technology uses an electronic charge to filter particles in the air and kill any pathogens . The technology cleans all of the air stream through the system. If you are interested in more information, MSA is happy to share the details.
• Air purifying units are in use in all private music rooms.

Other Safety Protocols

• Clear plastic sneeze guards around the front desk area.
• Additional portable barres to allow as much distance as possible between dancers.
• Clear outdoor signage at the entrance/exits as required by Virginia guidelines.

Building Access

• All students and guests must enter through the main set of front doors.
• Dressing rooms are open for students.  However, we strongly encourage students to come dressed and limit their dressing room usage.  Students are not permitted to congregate in common spaces to include dressing rooms and hallways.
• The building will be open to staff, faculty and students but subject to change based on community transmission level.
• We ask that students use the restroom at home when possible and only use restrooms for emergencies. Blower-style hand dryers have been deactivated and replaced with paper.

FACE COVERINGS

 MSA will adopt the CDC’s revised guidance for masking based on community levels, updated February 25, 2022. Please see below for guidance:

- Low

Wear a mask based on your personal preference, informed by your personal level of risk
 

- Medium
If you are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe illness
Talk to your healthcare provider about additional precautions, such as wearing masks or respirators indoors in public
If you live with or have social contact with someone at high risk for severe illness, consider testing yourself for infection before you get together and wearing a mask when indoors with them.
 

- High
Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status or individual risk (including in K-12 schools and other community settings)
If you are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe illness
Wear a mask or respirator that provides you with greater protection

This policy is subject to change as CDC guidance and state directives evolve.

For the time being (but subject to change), the following limited exceptions to the mask-wearing requirement (when community levels require masking) shall be allowed:

○ those with medical conditions supported with documentation to the effect that wearing a mask while physically exerting oneself would subject them to an unreasonably heightened risk of exacerbating the condition ​and​ a signed medical waiver on file (N​ote​: students in a class with another student allowed to participate without a mask will be notified in advance and allowed to participate virtually if choosing not to participate under such conditions.)

○ those working in a studio or classroom alone without any other person(s) present.

SOCIAL DISTANCING

• MSA will be following the CDC guidance/requirements regarding social distancing. Should guidelines or community levels change, we will adjust the in-person class limits and begin a hybrid rotation schedule if applicable
• 2022-2023 Youth Classes are scheduled to be in person. Virtual options will be available with a director’s approval for those who are not comfortable returning to in person training at this time. To request a virtual option, please email Louise Hislop, lhislop@metropolitanarts.org. During heightened periods of community transmission, virtual options may not require the permission of a director. Families will be notified when these adjustments are available.
• During heightened periods of community transmission, virtual options may not require the permission of a director. Families will be notified when these adjustments are available.
• Activity that requires physical contact or the use of shared equipment/props will be permitted when needed.  Hand sanitizer will be available before and after the activity.

POSITIVE CASE ACTION PLAN

If an MSA individual reports a positive case and has been onsite during their infectious period (48 hours prior to symptoms/positive test if asymptomatic), MSA leadership will:

• Follow up with the positive case about isolation/quarantine guidelines for return to in-person activities through email.
• Send an email notification to parents/guardians only when several cases of COVID-19 occur in a single classroom/group within a 14-day period.
• Work with local health officials to support contact tracing only in instances of a determined outbreak. Students identified as a close contact during said outbreaks may be paused or quarantined.

 

RETURN GUIDANCE FOR INDIVIDUALS with COVID-19

MSA will adopt CDC’s recommendation for a five-day period of isolation for students, faculty, & staff.

Individuals who are COVID-19 positive are able to return to in person active when ALL of the following criteria are met:

• Student completes at least 5 days of isolation from symptom onset for symptomatic students or 5 days since testing positive (day test administered) for COVID-19 for asymptomatic students; AND
• Student is fever free for 24 hours without fever-reducing medication; AND
• Student’s symptoms have significantly improved (with the exception of loss of sense and smell which may remain well after…..) AND
• Student is required to wear a N95 OR a surgical mask when returning to MSA on Day 6-10

WAIVER OF LIABILITY/ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK 

By signing below, I {name}, and/or as parent/guardian on behalf of myself and on behalf of the student(s) identified herein, acknowledge and accept that an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases exists in any public place where people are or have been present. By attending and participating in activities at or in an MSA facility, I, for myself and, if/as appropriate, on behalf of the MSA student(s) identified herein, voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19 and other infectious diseases and irrevocably agree that MSA and/or any officer, director, faculty, staff, independent contractor and/or other authorized agent(s) shall not be liable (except as may be limited or required, such as underlies Workers’ Compensation insurance, for example) for any illness or injury occasioned by or otherwise resulting from one’s participation with MSA or use of its facilities to the fullest extent permitted by governing law (that of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to its conflict of laws provisions), and in any event any such liability as may be deemed unwaivable, shall be limited to the extent legally permitted, to only such action or inaction as might be deemed to constitute willful or malicious action/inaction knowingly or purposefully intending to cause such illness or injury, and shall be further understood to be limited to exclude any consequential, indirect, third-party, and/or not reasonably foreseeable damages. In any event, this Waiver/Acknowledgement shall be admissible as evidence of the undersigned’s affirmative recognition of and contribution to the risk of potentially negative consequences (including but not limited to personal and eventual third-party sickness and possible death) resulting from possible exposure to COVID-19 by attending and/or participating in activities at or in an MSA facility.

FINAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I have read and understand all of the above material and agree to comply with MSA's COVID-19 safety measures and requirements.  I also understand that MSA reserves the right to terminate on-site or overall participation in lessons or classes due to non-compliance.