Gathering Again: Business Continuity and Infectious Disease Planning for Events

Two chemical engineering professors at the University of Utah, Tony Saad and James Sutherland, recently conducted a study on the airflow of Abravanel Hall – home to the Utah Symphony. Their analysis investigated the air flow interactions between wind instruments and the HVAC system. In order to maximize the amount of the wind instruments’ emissions that are drawn out of the auditorium by the air current during a performance, the scientists recommended strategies such as rearranging the orchestra’s seating and reinforcing the flow dynamics of the HVAC system. Their research showed that adopting all these recommendations “can reduce the potential concentration of the virus on stage by more than a hundred times.” Listen to an interview with Professors Saad and Sutherland on KUER.

A preprint scientific research paper titled “Measurements and Simulations of Aerosol Released while Singing and Playing Wind Instruments,” based on an aerosol study conducted at the University of Colorado and the University of Maryland, was released April 15, 2021. The study was commissioned by an international coalition of performing arts organizations, including the League. Researchers investigated various components that are associated with transmission risks from musical performance, as well as strategies to mitigate the risks. Using methods such as flow visualization, aerosol and CO₂ measurements, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, the team explored flow characterization, aerosol concentration, masks’ impact on plume and aerosol, and the risks of airborne COVID-19 infection in indoor and outdoor environments.

As municipal officials begin to allow small groups of people to gather in public even while the fight against COVID-19 continues, there is a tremendous need for guidance how small events and venues can reopen as safely as possible under these incredibly challenging circumstances.  In response, the Event Safety Alliance released in mid-May 2020 The Event Safety Alliance Reopening Guide.  

Opening Up America Again (PDF) – White House guidance to states and regions, issued on April 16, 2020.

How Futurists Cope With Uncertainty – This is a tool you can use to see plausible future states early from Amy Webb, a renowned futurist who spoke at the League’s 2016 Conference.

The Event Safety Alliance hosted a March 4 webinar outlining eight steps that should be taken by organizations that host public events. The guidance is specific to the coronavirus outbreak, and also describes emergency preparation strategies that are important to adopt on an ongoing basis. 

ArtsReady is an online service by and for arts and culture nonprofits, and provides ongoing guidance in support of emergency preparation. The ArtsReady homepage features advice specific to the coronavirus, including consideration of how to review what is covered by insurance policies. It was recently updated to feature a number of free webinars that will be of interest to orchestras.