Universal and correct use of masks

Masks should be worn at all times, by all people at NYPAA, with certain exceptions for certain people, or for certain settings or activities, like eating or drinking. Masks should be required in all studios and non-studio settings, including hallways, offices, restrooms, etc.

Physical distancing

1. Students will be seated no less than 3 feet apart during times of low to moderate community transmission.
2. In times of high community transmission, students will be seated no less than 6 feet apart.

• Maintain 6 feet of distance in the following settings:

1. Between adults (teachers and staff), and between adults and students at all times in the studio building.
2. When masks cannot be worn, like when eating.
3. During activities when increased, exhalation occurs, like singing, shouting, acting, or dancing.
4. In common areas

Handwashing and respiratory etiquette

Teachers, Staff & Students must use proper hand-washing and respiratory etiquette.

1. Hand-washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If hand-washing is impossible, a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol should be used.
2. Students and staff must cover coughs and sneezes with tissue when not wearing a mask, and immediately wash their hands after blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing.

Staff record the temperature of all people entering the studios and ask screening questions about the symptoms below.  The following symptoms below generally suggest a student, teacher, or staff member has an infectious illness and should not attend the Academy on their scheduled day, regardless of whether the illness is COVID-19. For students, staff, and teachers with chronic conditions, symptom presence should represent a change from their typical health status to warrant exclusion from the Academy. Occurrence of any of the symptoms below while a student, teacher, or staff member is at NYPAA suggests the person may be referred for diagnostic testing.

• Temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
• Sore throat
• Cough (for students with chronic cough due to allergies or asthma, a change in their cough from baseline)
• Difficulty breathing (for students with asthma, a change from their baseline breathing)
• Diarrhea or vomiting
• New loss of taste or smell
• New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever