Musicians and other artists will on Saturday December 19th 2020 return to performing stages. The development follows lifting of lockdown on the entertainment industry by government, according to the Uganda National Cultural Centre.
In a statement released Wednesday morning, the UNCC has proposed a number of Standard Operating Procedures to be followed by the performers and event organizers.
The arts activities have also been classified into different categories which include; Low risk arts that will be conducted with social distancing, individually with no sharing of equipment or the ability to clean the equipment before use by another. These include; solo poets, stand-up comedians, Solo Musicians, MCs, one man acts, film screening and one visitor to the gallery etc.
Medium or moderate risk arts which involve close contacts but with protective equipment in place that may reduce likeliness of respiratory particle transmission between participants. These include; Music bands, cultural troupe performances, groups visiting galleries and duo performances.
High risk arts; these involve close, sustained contact between performers/participants, a lack of significant protective barriers and high probability that respiratory particles will be transmitted between performers/participants.
The ministry of health has provided general guidelines and recommendations for the public to limit the spread of COVID19. These include; evidence-based recommendations for return to perform guidelines are currently limited and clearly subject to change as further data are obtained in concert with improved COVID19 case identification.
There must be provision of quick access to COVID19 testing facilities in the vicinity of the performance or exhibition venues should an artist, patron, official or service provider be required to take a test.
Performers who are asymptomatic and are negative for COVID19, return for rehearsal and training is permissible without additional testing. However, those who test positive should refrain from rehearsals and training for at least two weeks from the date of positive test result and follow strict isolation guidelines.
Measures must be put in place to ensure social distancing during access and exit of performance venues. Signs must be placed at entry points to instruct participants and visitors not to enter the venue/facility if they are unwell or have COVID19 symptoms.
Venues must maintain a record of contact details for artists, crew, officials and audience in attendance of the activity for a period of at least 28 days for ease of tracing if required. All fans, artists and officials shall wear masks (where applicable) while participating in arts activity or in the arts venue.
