SAFETY GUIDELINES FOR PERFORMING ARTS THEATERS TO REOPEN POST COVID-19 ERA

The Government is now allowing venues like Hopewell Theater, dine in theater nj the opportunity to reopen at 25% capacity, bringing you together at the emerging theater. As the COVID-19 pandemic is finally subsiding and we might see entertainment businesses, movie theaters, cultural venues, and performing arts theaters opening soon. However, though the pandemic has crossed its peak, it is far from over.

So, in this post, we have detailed a few guidelines that the performing arts theaters are taking into consideration before reopening post the COVID era.

Guidance for Art Theater Owners

  • Develop a COVID-19 safety plan– Employers are required to develop a COVID-19 safety plan that outlines the policies, guidelines, and procedures to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The plan must identify the protocols that everyone must follow at the workplace to keep the risk associated with COVID-19 at bay.
  • Physical Distancing – The employees and volunteers must comply with the physical distancing requirements which include:
  • Ensure 6 ft. distance between personnel unless the core function of the work activity requires a shorter distance, in which case the personnel must wear acceptable face coverings.
  • Tightly confined spaces should be occupied by only one individual at a time, and the total occupancy must be under 50% of the maximum capacity.
  • Essential in-person gatherings must be held in open, well-ventilated places if possible, otherwise, the shows should be held in a tele or video conferencing format.
  • There should be multiple entries and exit gates to avoid crowding and to maintain social distancing.
  • There should be strict guidelines that dictate both workers and employees should wear face masks while inside the theater and outdoor areas when social distancing is difficult to maintain.
  • In case a customer declines to wear face-covering for non-medical reasons then the business should decline the individual entry into the indoor premises.
  • The reservations, cancellations, and prepayments for the shows must be made via electronic or telephone reservation systems to limit physical interactions.
  • Proper sanitization materials such as hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes should be provided to customers and the occupancy in restrooms must be limited to avoid overcrowding. You can either do so through signage or where practicable through the utilization of attendants to monitor capacity.
  • Clean and sanitize the workplace– The theatre owners must restrict the transmission of COVID-19 through touching contaminated surfaces by ensuring the highest hygiene standards when handling props, musical instruments, technical equipment’s an actor’s costumes. The changing rooms, communal areas, and showers must also be cleaned and sanitized to reduce transmission through contact with objects.
  • Groups that buy tickets together can be allowed to sit together, though they must be at least 6 feet apart from other groups.

Guidelines for Employees –

  • Any employee with COVID-19 symptoms should be sent home immediately.
  • The employees should be provided with face coverings free of charge and should be encouraged to wear them while indoors and outside when social distancing is not being followed.
  • There should be employee break times for repeated hand washing throughout the day.
  • The theater owners must strictly adopt policies that require staff to wear gloves in addition to regular hand hygiene, timely hand sanitization, and hand washing. In case the employees do not have gloves then the business must provide them the same free of charge.

Therefore, it is essential that safety guidelines are followed by performing arts theaters when they reopen post the COVID-19 era. Since most of the theaters are ready to welcome you back, you can start making plans for the next theater show with your family today!

Note: This is a brief overview. For more information please visit the official website.