Making musical performances safer in the era of COVID-19

Date:
September 15, 2021
Source:
American Chemical Society
Summary:
Researchers have studied aerosol production from playing wind
instruments, singing and acting, allowing them to develop
recommendations to minimize COVID transmission.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
One of the many aspects of "normal" life that SARS-CoV-2 took away
was the enjoyment of live musical performances. With the easing of
lockdowns and restrictions in many parts of the world, performers can
entertain audiences once again, but concerns about spreading the virus
remain. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Environmental Au have studied
aerosol production from playing wind instruments, singing and acting,
allowing them to develop recommendations to minimize COVID transmission.


========================================================================== Early in the pandemic, COVID-19 outbreaks from choir performances
indicated that singing carries a potential infection risk, but less is
known about the risks of airborne infection from wind instruments. To
help keep performers, audiences and music students safe, Tehya Stockman,
Shelly Miller and colleagues wanted to examine aerosol production
and flow from various musical activities, as well as test different
mitigation strategies.

The researchers examined the extent and velocity of air jets, or plumes,
coming from singers' and actors' mouths and from wind instruments,
such as the flute, clarinet, trumpet and saxophone. They also measured
airborne respiratory particles, or aerosols, and carbon dioxide levels emanating from the performers. They found that aerosol concentrations
coming from the bell of a clarinet were comparable to singing. Placing a surgical mask over a singer's face or over the clarinet bell substantially reduced plume velocities and lengths and decreased aerosol concentrations
in front of the masks. The team then used these measurements to model
viral transmission in indoor and outdoor environments, finding that the
lowest risk of airborne COVID-19 infection occurred at less than 30
minutes of exposure indoors and less than 60 minutes outdoors. These
findings could help musical rehearsals and performances resume in a
safer manner for musicians and audiences, the researchers say.

The authors acknowledge funding from an international coalition of more
than 95 musical organizations.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Chemical_Society. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Related Multimedia:
*
YouTube_video:_Making_musical_performances_safer_in_the_era_of_COVID-19 ========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Tehya Stockman, Shengwei Zhu, Abhishek Kumar, Lingzhe Wang,
Sameer Patel,
James Weaver, Mark Spede, Donald K. Milton, Jean Hertzberg, Darin
Toohey, Marina Vance, Jelena Srebric, Shelly L. Miller. Measurements
and Simulations of Aerosol Released while Singing and Playing
Wind Instruments. ACS Environmental Au, 2021; DOI: 10.1021/
acsenvironau.1c00007 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/09/210915135147.htm

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