Art Starts

March 11, 2020

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

The State of New Hampshire (NH) has been closely monitoring developments with COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local health departments, including the NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Public Health Services (DPHS), are monitoring and continuously updating information.

WHAT IS THE CORONAVIRUS?

Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses, but only several types are known to commonly cause infections in people, with these common human coronaviruses usually causing mild to moderate respiratory illness. COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, and difficulty breathing. The virus spreads similarly as the flu through coughing and sneezing. Symptoms may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure.

WHAT CAN I DO TO STAY HEALTHY?

Per the CDC and NH DHHS DPHS communications, the current risk of this virus is considered low; guidance provided follows the same precautions and recommendations for avoiding the flu and colds. If you believe that you may have been exposed to Coronavirus, consult with your doctor or health care provider as soon as possible.

WHAT CAN I DO TO PREVENT GETTING THE CORONAVIRUS?

There are steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting sick from viral respiratory infections and to help prevent transmitting infections to others:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick or who exhibit flu-like symptoms.
• Stay home from work or school if you have a fever or are not feeling well.
• Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. When soap and running water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand rub with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands that are visibly soiled.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue and throw away used tissues immediately and wash your hands.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces frequently.

ARE THERE SPECIFIC RESOURCES FOR ARTS ORGANIZATIONS?

Yes. This health concern presents special challenges for the arts sector, especially those hosting mass gatherings, such as performances, festivals, screenings, and the like. The following resources might be helpful:

• ArtsReady and the National Coalition for Arts Preparedness and Emergency Response are regularly updating their sites with arts-specific resources and advice.
• The CDC recently issued guidance on how to Get Your Mass Gatherings or Large Community Events Ready for Coronavirus Disease.
• ArtsReady has circulated practical examples of measures being implemented by cultural organizations, including this March 6 New York Times article and this February 26 ArtsReady Alert.
• COVID-19/Coronavirus Resources & Information for the Museum Field, from the American Alliance of Museums, contains advice applicable to museums and other cultural venues.
• Two webinars—Theatre Communications Group's Coronavirus Preparedness Webinar and the Event Safety Alliance's Prepare Your Organization for the Coronavirus Disease Outbreak—may be of particular interest to performing arts groups.
• The League of American Orchestras’ coronavirus resources page includes examples of sample audience communications as well as other readiness recommendations.
• Americans for the Arts offers basic individual prevention measures to share with attendees, program participants and employees.

Please feel free to reach out to NHSCA with your questions and concerns. We stand ready to help.

Stay well,

Ginnie Lupi, Director
New Hampshire State Council on the Arts