HEALTH AND SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY (Updated June 20, 2024)

POLICIES FOR PATRONS

On March 1, 2024, U.S Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) updated and simplified respiratory virus recommendations for how people can protect themselves and their communities from respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. The new guidance addresses risks from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, seasonal flu, and RSV, which can cause significant health impacts and strain on hospitals and health care workers, as well as the general population. Peninsula Symphony is following the CDC’s recommendations as follows:

As part of the guidance, CDC provides active recommendations on core prevention steps and strategies:

  • Staying up to date with vaccination to protect people against serious illness, hospitalization, and death. This includes flu, COVID-19, and RSV if eligible.

  • Practicing good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.

  • Taking steps for cleaner air, such as bringing in more fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, or gathering outdoors.

When people get sick with a respiratory virus, the updated guidance recommends that they stay home and away from others. For people with COVID-19 and influenza, treatment is available and can lessen symptoms and lower the risk of severe illness. The recommendations suggest returning to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication.

Once people resume normal activities, they are encouraged to take additional prevention strategies for the next 5 days to curb disease spread, such as taking more steps for cleaner air, enhancing hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and/or getting tested for respiratory viruses. Enhanced precautions are especially important to protect those most at risk for severe illness, including those over 65 and people with weakened immune systems. CDC’s updated guidance reflects how the circumstances around COVID-19 in particular have changed. While it remains a threat, today it is far less likely to cause severe illness because of widespread immunity and improved tools to prevent and treat the disease.  Importantly, states and countries that have already adjusted recommended isolation times have not seen increased hospitalizations or deaths related to COVID-19.

For detailed recommendations released by the CDC, please visit https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html

HEALTH RISK STATEMENT

We understand that despite the implementation of enhanced safety measures and policies, an inherent risk of exposure to infectious disease still exists. By attending a Peninsula Symphony performance, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to infectious disease.