Safety Procedures

Masks must be worn at all times while inside the University of South Carolina School of Music and String Project for the entirety of the rehearsal for string, percussion and piano players.

Wind and brass players must wear their masks when not playing their instrument. This includes during periods of rest in the music. 

Masks must be well fitted to the individual’s face without gaps and cover the mouth and nose at all times. Bandanas, gaiters, ski masks, mesh fabrics, masks with air vents/valves and face shields are not acceptable masks. If you are unable to provide your own mask one will be provided for you.

CDC mask guidance can be found here.

Students may not enter any facility more than 15 minutes prior to their rehearsal time. This to allow time for air exchange in rehearsal rooms for winds and brass and to also mitigate students interacting and gathering for extended periods of time outside of rehearsal rooms. If you must be present at a rehearsal facility more than 15 minutes before your rehearsal start time the Youth Orchestra Manager must be informed at least 2 hours prior to the student’s arrival.

When you arrive...

• Mask before entering any USC rehearsal facility.
• Keep 3 - 6 feet distance between yourself and other members until the rehearsal room is clear.
• Report directly to your seat, do not wander around the room.
• Do not touch other members items or instruments that you do not own.

Food and Drink Guidelines

• No food or drink, besides water, is allowed to be consumed in the rehearsal room or inside the USC String Project.
  • If you need to eat before or between rehearsals, please find the Youth Orchestra Manger to find a socially distanced area to eat in.

If you feel sick or are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, do not attend rehearsal and consider getting tested.

Please prioritize your health and safety and the safety of fellow SCPYO members by staying home if you are not feeling well.

All COVID-19 or illness related absences are excused.

Notify us if you are not feeling well and need to miss rehearsal.

If you test positive for COVID-19, you may not attend rehearsal, regardless of vaccination status until:

• Your symptoms have fully resolved; and
• You have isolated for 5-days from the day your positive test sample was taken if you have no symptoms OR isolated 5-days from illness onset; and
• You have had no fever for at least 24 hours and have not used fever reducing medication during that time.

Once the above criteria are met, individuals* who have tested positive must mask around others for 5-days.

If you are a string, percussion or piano player, you may attend rehearsal during your 5-day masking period IF you have met the above criteria. 

 * If you are a wind or brass player, you must meet the criteria above AND complete the full 5-day masking period before attending rehearsal again as it is not possible for you to mask at all times while around others in a rehearsal space.

If you still feel sick or have symptoms after your quarantine, 5-day isolation and or 5-day masking period, even if vaccinated or boosted, do not attend rehearsal.

Please notify us of your positive result so we may inform those who may have been exposed during a rehearsal. All COVD-19 related absences are excused.

SCDHEC guidelines can be found here.

If you have been exposed to COVID-19, you may not attend rehearsal until you complete the recommended testing and quarantine or isolation guidelines set. This will vary depending on your vaccination status.

Please read the guidelines provided by SCDHEC here.

Please note, regardless of vaccination status or guidelines above:

• Wind and brass players, you may not attend rehearsal during a required masking period as it is not possible for you to mask at all times while around others in a rehearsal space.
• If you are under quarantine for your school, you may not attend rehearsal until you complete said quarantine period.
• If you are waiting on test results after an exposure, you may not attend rehearsal until you receive said results.

If you have to quarantine, notify us so we may inform those who may have been exposed during a rehearsal. All COVD-19 related absences are excused.

If a member of the SCPYO tests positive for COVID-19 and has attended a rehearsal within 5-days of this result, those whom the individual came in contact with will be notified and excused from rehearsal until able to get tested, quarantine or isolate for the required period of time depending on the individual's symptoms and vaccination status.

SCDHEC guidelines can be found here.

Close contacts include those who were within 6 feet of the infected individual and those who were in contact with the infected individual where masking was not present by either individual.