Note: general Health & Safety advice is on our Health & Safety Risk Assessment page.
This page has been compiled by Sally Wearing, the Morris Federation’s Health & Safety Advisor.
These pages try to help with two main questions from teams: 1) how can we make it safe for everyone at a practice or a performance and still keep within the government’s guidance, and 2) are we covered by our Public Liability Insurance and Personal Accident Insurance?
It is wise to seek the views of the team about whether and how you meet for in-person practices or performances. Some may have vulnerable relatives at home, or underlying health conditions of their own, and may be unwilling to participate. The decision on what to do is one for your own team to make.
Many teams have also been using video conferencing software to keep in touch and run practices, and a few run hybrid practices (i.e. some people in the hall, others online).
See all our Covid-19 pages:
- Main Covid-19 page (this page)
- Online Practices
- Insurance
Update on 10th November 2022
This applies to England, Scotland and Wales. If you would like advice for anywhere else, please contact Sally Wearing at sallywearing@outlook.com.
Even if you are fully vaccinated, it is still possible to catch and spread Covid-19. The risk is greatest when someone who is infected is physically close to, or sharing an enclosed and/or poorly ventilated space with, other people. Infected people release small particles containing the virus when they breath, speak, cough or sneeze. These can be breathed in by other people or can contact their eyes, nose or mouth. The particles can also land on surfaces and be passed on by touch.
The risk of catching or passing on Covid-19 is higher in crowded spaces and in enclosed indoor spaces where there is limited fresh air.
Dancing, singing and shouting all increase the risk of catching or passing on Covid, because people generate more particles when they breathe heavily.
Some people are still at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell from Covid, including people whose immune systems are compromised or who have certain long-term conditions. Please consider whether anyone in your team is at higher risk when deciding what to do.
Although there are now no legal restrictions in place, there is still government guidance about what we should all do to reduce the risk of catching Covid and passing it onto others. We recommend that you and everyone else in your team reads the latest guidance for your country as it is relevant to all morris and related activities, including both practices and performances:
Get vaccinated
Vaccinations are the best defence against Covid. We recommend encouraging everyone in your team to get vaccinated, including boosters.
Ventilation
Practising or performing outdoors greatly reduces the risk. When this is not possible, improving the flow of fresh air when you are dancing indoors will help reduce the risk.
Try to maintain a regular supply of outdoor air. The simplest way is usually to open windows, doors or vents, for as long as possible. The more fresh air that is brought in, the quicker any airborne virus will be removed, but, if is it cold and/or windy, even a small amount of fresh air can help. Windows, doors and vents do not have to be open all the time; try opening them for a short time before you dance and maybe at intervals during your practice.
Good hygiene
We all still need to follow the basic rules of good hygiene:
- wash your hands frequently
- cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, then wash your hands
- keep surfaces clean.
A face covering can help reduce the chance of spreading infection to others, but wearing one while exercising strenuously is not recommended. However, it is sensible to wear face coverings if you have someone in your team who is at higher risk from Covid, or if Covid rates are high and people will be in close contact.
People with symptoms or a positive Covid test result
Anyone who has symptoms or who has tested positive, should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, especially those at risk. We recommend asking team members not to come to practices and performances if they have Covid and/or symptoms. It can take up to ten days for infections to develop, so anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has tested positive should avoid close contact with people at higher risk and limit contact with people from outside their household.
Testing
Although regular testing for Covid is no longer recommended, you could consider asking members to test before coming to a practice or performance, especially if you have anyone in your team who is at higher risk. You should also ask members to test if Covid rates are high.
Risk Assessment
As the risks from Covid have reduced, we no longer recommend carrying out specific risk assessments. Instead, Covid should be included in your usual health and safety risk assessments. We have therefore updated the Morris Federation’s risk assessments to include Covid.
Our Template Risk Assessments for Dance Displays and Workshops are available on our Health & Safety Risk Assessment page.
Need more advice?
If anyone needs advice about Covid or other health & safety issues, please contact Sally Wearing at sallywearing@outlook.com
