Returning to the dance studio safely (covid-19)

[snapdancer]

Problems with antibody tests:
(1) The tests available right now are unreliable
(2) We won't know for sure until widespread testing is done with reliable tests, but best guesstimates from the experts are that right now maybe 5% of the population in areas that have significant numbers of cases have antibodies.

Problems with temperature tests:
(1) Different people have different base temperatures
(2) People may take aspirin, tylenol, etc to reduce fevers
(3) Will not catch people who are asymptomatic

 

[Warren J. Dew]

And if everyone is tested the first week, what about the next week, and the one after that? How frequently are you imagining they would "require everyone to get tested"?

Exactly. Not to mention that the tests often have false negatives early in the progress of the disease, because there isn't a lot of virus so you might not get any on the swab - but there might still be a risk of infection, just because of luck regarding whether a virus got in a droplet.

i don’t know enough about it, but wouldn’t you need to know each person’s ”base” temperature before you could determine whether they had a fever or not?

For those who get a fever with Covid-19, it's typically 102F. That should be pretty easily detectable even without a thermometer - if anyone manages to get to the dance studio with that high a fever.

(2) We won't know for sure until widespread testing is done with reliable tests, but best guesstimates from the experts are that right now maybe 5% of the population in areas that have significant numbers of cases have antibodies.

In Austria, they did random testing and found 1%. In Santa Barbara they found 2.5%, which was still 85 times as high as the previously detected cases. In one street in Chelsea, they found 30%, according to one article. I have a feeling there might have been a problem with that last test.

Ultimately, though, testing isn't the answer here. Keeping the disease incidence low enough that the chance of encountering someone infectious is minuscule is.

 

[Joe]

Let me reiterate: If a studio is worried about the coronavirus, they should require everyone to get tested.

Presumably the only people who would be allowed in would be people who show positive antibody tests?

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

Presumably the only people who would be allowed in would be people who show positive antibody tests?

Although...do we know that testing positive for antibodies guarantees that (a) you’ll never be infected with the virus, and (b) you’ll never be able to infect anyone else? If not, what difference would test results make to a dance studio’s decision on whether to allow entry?

 

[Purr]

We still will want a vaccine. Antibody tests would still be very useful. But honestly... I my prediction is: in about 2 weeks (after the data come in and do what I predict! ) we'll be able to talk about loosing the quarantine. (Preferably in sane ways!)

I read your posts with great interest. I've been following the model for my state, which is in the neighborhood. Generally looking at it, we've passed the peak, and with the downhill slope the crisis appears to be mostly over mid to late May. The state is starting re-opening May 1, although there are no details on what that will look like.

While not dancing, think about this. How many of us go to to a hair stylist or barber? For cuts, hair color or permanents? Are you planning on forgoing getting your hair done until there's a vaccine? It's hard to get your hair done without being in close proximity to the person styling it.

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

While not dancing, think about this. How many of us go to to a hair stylist or barber? For cuts, hair color or permanents? Are you planning on forgoing getting your hair done until there's a vaccine? It's hard to get your hair done without being in close proximity to the person styling it.

Already been thinking about that. Not just salon for cut & color, but also massage therapist for deep tissue Thai massage (no more back pain after I started getting that regularly). Also taking my dog back to the dog park for off-leash exercise and socialization. Also live yoga classes and barre classes.

As things stand right now for me personally, I intend to run, not walk, back to these places as soon as I am allowed to do so...which I predict will be looooooong before there is a vaccine available. If any of those places require me to wear a mask, then I will.

 

[singndance]

While not dancing, think about this. How many of us go to to a hair stylist or barber? For cuts, hair color or permanents? Are you planning on forgoing getting your hair done until there's a vaccine? It's hard to get your hair done without being in close proximity to the person styling it.

True, but I don't get nearly as close to my hairdresser as I do to my pro, and I only see the hairdresser one hour once every 6 weeks, vs. 2 or 3 times a week for my pro. I guess it will depend on your underlying health and your tolerance for acceptable risk. I am in high risk categories. I wish I weren't. But there you have it. On a positive note, I am going to try a Zoom lesson later this week at least to keep my toes in the dancing world.

 

[Warren J. Dew]

While not dancing, think about this. How many of us go to to a hair stylist or barber? For cuts, hair color or permanents? Are you planning on forgoing getting your hair done until there's a vaccine? It's hard to get your hair done without being in close proximity to the person styling it.

I was already due for a haircut and just missed the barber's last hour. If men skipped cutting hair until there was a vaccine, we'd be back in the 1970s. And keep in mind that men who have long hair tend not to wash it and take care of it the way ladies do. Yuck!

 

[Purr]

Already been thinking about that. Not just salon for cut & color, but also massage therapist for deep tissue Thai massage (no more back pain after I started getting that regularly). Also taking my dog back to the dog park for off-leash exercise and socialization. Also live yoga classes and barre classes.

As things stand right now for me personally, I intend to run, not walk, back to these places as soon as I am allowed to do so...which I predict will be looooooong before there is a vaccine available. If any of those places require me to wear a mask, then I will.

I used the hair stylist as an example. I could have said nail technician. Or I could have said, who's not going to their doctor, their optometrist, or their dentist before a vaccine. Or any number of things.

I intend to move on with what I was doing before the health crisis, as soon as restrictions are lifted by the governor. If I'm required to wear a mask, I'll do it.

As far as dancing, I'm used to lessons with drills and practicing technique. And I'm a good enough follow to "shadow follow" from a distance, at least for some dances. I'm sure NP and I can make it work.

 

[Purr]

I was already due for a haircut and just missed the barber's last hour. If men skipped cutting hair until there was a vaccine, we'd be back in the 1970s. And keep in mind that men who have long hair tend not to wash it and take care of it the way ladies do. Yuck!

I feel your pain. I was fortunate enough to squeeze in a haircut right before the restrictions went into effect in my state.

 

[raindance]

I was already due for a haircut and just missed the barber's last hour. If men skipped cutting hair until there was a vaccine, we'd be back in the 1970s. And keep in mind that men who have long hair tend not to wash it and take care of it the way ladies do. Yuck!

Might be time for your wife to give it a shot. Or maybe one of your kids?

 

[raindance]

True, but I don't get nearly as close to my hairdresser as I do to my pro, and I only see the hairdresser one hour once every 6 weeks, vs. 2 or 3 times a week for my pro. I guess it will depend on your underlying health and your tolerance for acceptable risk. I am in high risk categories. I wish I weren't. But there you have it. On a positive note, I am going to try a Zoom lesson later this week at least to keep my toes in the dancing world.

I hope you enjoy your Zoom lesson!

The thing with someone like a hairdresser (or optometrist, dentist, nail technician, etc) is that while you spend less time with them per week or month, they see more clients per day/week/month than your pro, who probably sees many of the same clients week after week. All of the above are seeing clients face to face or in close contact for a sustained period of time - 10 minutes to an hour, etc. Assuming their outside of work activities are similar (of course that's a big assumption), and assuming similar precautions (masks, handwashing, etc), someone that sees more different clients per day/week might have a higher risk of picking up the infection and passing it on to their other clients, since they'd run a higher risk that one of those people was infected just due to numbers.

As a high risk household, we're going to be pretty nervous about being around anyone that interacts a lot with the public until things are a lot better (e.g. some or all of: total infections in area low, precautions well established and proven to be working well, testing easily available, effective treatment available, etc.). In our case that would include both the dance teachers and hair dressers.

In the end, of course, everyone will end up making their own decisions, within the framework of what's allowed as things go forward. I think there will be a lot of high risk folks taking their time getting back to old routines, even as restrictions are lifted. And I think there will be others rushing to get back to as much as they are allowed to do. It will be interesting to watch it all play out. I hope it goes well over the long haul.

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

I was already due for a haircut and just missed the barber's last hour. If men skipped cutting hair until there was a vaccine, we'd be back in the 1970s. And keep in mind that men who have long hair tend not to wash it and take care of it the way ladies do. Yuck!

I’ve already had to cut my husband’s hair, my stepson’s, and his girlfriend’s. (And trimmed my own bangs twice.)

 

[IndyLady]

Might be time for your wife to give it a shot. Or maybe one of your kids?

I have short hair (very short in back). I bought a set of clippers a couple weeks ago, but haven't opened them. I'm about 1-2 weeks past needing a haircut. My spouse is not going to be thrilled if I sic this responsibility on him. I'm having indecision paralysis about this.

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

I have short hair (very short in back). I bought a set of clippers a couple weeks ago, but haven't opened them. I'm about 1-2 weeks past needing a haircut. My spouse is not going to be thrilled if I sic this responsibility on him. I'm having indecision paralysis about this.

Hair is just dead skin cells. It grows back. What’s the worst that can happen? (Other than baldness and death by electric hair clippers, that is.)