Returning to the dance studio safely (covid-19)

[worddancer]

I suspect all the teachers think that students will all want to switch to in person.

That is not true. At WarmFuzzy and CleanPrecise studio there have been vocal students who have asked for virtuals to continue and both family of studios have said the virtuals will continue for a long time or indefinitely.

For liability reasons it will also be dumb not to have virtual options during a pandemic.

 

[singndance]

singndance,
Have you considered telling him you'll be happy to continue online lessons until you feel comfortable?

I suspect all the teachers think that students will all want to switch to in person. But some might prefer online for a while. Having some do online and others in person may end up being the solution to dealing with crowding.

Yes, I decided I will tell him that I am delighted to continue online lessons. I did tell him yesterday that I thought the online lessons were going much better than I imagined.

I want to wait a few weeks to go back into the studio. Although our restaurants and salons have reopened in limited capacity, I haven't gone there either. We'll see how it goes. If I weren't just so darn old, I wouldn't be so worried!

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

Yes, I decided I will tell him that I am delighted to continue online lessons. I did tell him yesterday that I thought the online lessons were going much better than I imagined.

I want to wait a few weeks to go back into the studio. Although our restaurants and salons have reopened in limited capacity, I haven't gone there either. We'll see how it goes. If I weren't just so darn old, I wouldn't be so worried!

I apologize for asking such a rude question, and my mother would be horrified because she raised me to know better...but in the context of this specific discussion, I believe it’s a relevant and even important question: how old are you?

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

Dance studios in Ohio may reopen May 26, along with gyms and fitness centers. Surprisingly, I do not find myself in a hurry to text NP about scheduling.

What are the types of things making you NOT in a hurry to text NP?
Also, do you know what safety protocols they’re putting in place for May 26?

 

[raindance]

Yes, I decided I will tell him that I am delighted to continue online lessons. I did tell him yesterday that I thought the online lessons were going much better than I imagined.

I want to wait a few weeks to go back into the studio. Although our restaurants and salons have reopened in limited capacity, I haven't gone there either. We'll see how it goes. If I weren't just so darn old, I wouldn't be so worried!

You are right to be worried.

I think it is important to note, things allowed to be open is not the same as safe for higher risk people to be going out. You are right to be cautious. All the openings really still assume that the most vulnerable will continue to self isolate as much as possible for the long term (likely many months or more). This isn't as well publicized as it should be.

Of course, as things open, some will decide to take various risks, that is up to them where allowed. Some of the first customers they showed on the news at newly opened restaurants and salons were men with grey hair.

The state next to mine specifically is saying they can afford to start to open because they have the health care capacity, and they expect people to continue to get sick and die, just at a manageable pace. They also say those over 60 or with underlying health conditions should continue to stay home, but this message gets drowned out in details of what can open when. If you personally don't want to risk getting sick and dying, you have to protect yourself. Things like everyone wearing masks and other precautions will reduce infections but not eliminate them. If you are at high risk of a bad outcome from an infection, and you are able to stay home, that remains your safest option, and will for some long time to come, unfortunately.

I have been trying to spread this message to my at risk friends and family members. Most were unaware and thought that as things open they would be safe to go ahead and get out.

 

[worddancer]

Yes, the vulnerable should self-isolate. I also think no matter the age, the top 3 co-morbidities are obesity, hypertension and diabetes. So be careful if you have one of those.

That said, in Europe, they actually passed *laws* saying that folks over a certain age had to self-isolate and stay home. And that older (and wealthier and more powerful) demographic rebelled. And the laws had to be removed. They said they had fought in world wars and built their country up, and they can make their own decision.

 

[singndance]

I apologize for asking such a rude question, and my mother would be horrified because she raised me to know better...but in the context of this specific discussion, I believe it’s a relevant and even important question: how old are you?

I will admit to being on Medicare but that's as far as I'll go!!!

 

[ProgressNotPerfection]

things allowed to be open is not the same as safe for higher risk people to be going out.

THIS!!!

 

[raindance]

Yes, the vulnerable should self-isolate. I also think no matter the age, the top 3 co-morbidities are obesity, hypertension and diabetes. So be careful if you have one of those.

Well, the vulnerable that can self isolate, should.

One of the big problems is that an awful lot of them can't. Nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable, can't self isolate completely due to the assistance they require, and measures to protect them have failed in many countries and communities. And there are plenty of working age people that have one of those comorbidities (or others, such as asthma, COPD, autoimmune conditions, etc) who in normal times are plenty healthy enough to be working, but are or will be at risk by returning to their jobs even with various protections. And many households contain a mixture of people - one or more member may be older or otherwise vulnerable. So either the whole household self isolates, or the healthier carefully go out but risk bringing an infection home to the more vulnerable in the household.

Which brings us back to what many countries have concluded - the vulnerable should self isolate as best they can. And the less vulnerable should also do what they can to prevent the spread of infection as well - masks, social distancing, etc.

To bring this back to dancing - I hope this means that the younger, healthier dancers will go back with appropriate cautions at the appropriate times. Dancing is likely to be different for a while, just like every other part of life, unfortunately. And I hope that the older and otherwise more vulnerable dancers will choose to continue to protect themselves for now.

 

[Warren J. Dew]

Yes, the vulnerable should self-isolate. I also think no matter the age, the top 3 co-morbidities are obesity, hypertension and diabetes. So be careful if you have one of those.

That said, in Europe, they actually passed *laws* saying that folks over a certain age had to self-isolate and stay home. And that older (and wealthier and more powerful) demographic rebelled. And the laws had to be removed. They said they had fought in world wars and built their country up, and they can make their own decision.

The "vulnerable" should make well informed decisions based on their own preferences. I'm barely over 60 myself, but I'm continuing to gain about a pound a week while dance studios and practices are unavailable. My assessment is that it would be healthier for me to return to exercise and take my chances with Covid-19 than to continue to gain weight and take my chances with heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. I don't want to stay on track to becoming obese before a vaccine comes out.

I need that exercise and I need dance studios to do it.

If I were 80, I might make a different decision. If I were 95, I might want another chance to hug grandchildren before I die, even if it increased the chances of death. Obviously that last would be different if I didn't have grandchildren. These are not decisions that it's appropriate for the government to make for me.

Nursing home residents are particularly vulnerable, can't self isolate completely due to the assistance they require, and measures to protect them have failed in many countries and communities.

I don't think measures to protect nursing homes have succeeded anywhere. As long as Covid-19 is endemic, it will get into some nursing homes. Sequestering old people entirely is not a realistic strategy.

That said, there have been some notable cases where management or government policies have exacerbated the situation. Management needs to understand that the biggest unavoidable Covid-19 threat to the residents is the workers at the nursing home, and act to limit transmission from workers to the extent possible. Governments need to avoid exacerbating the problem with policies like requiring nursing homes to accept Covid-19 patients as New York did for a while.

To bring this back to dancing - I hope this means that the younger, healthier dancers will go back with appropriate cautions at the appropriate times. Dancing is likely to be different for a while, just like every other part of life, unfortunately. And I hope that the older and otherwise more vulnerable dancers will choose to continue to protect themselves for now.

I hope that older and otherwise more vulnerable dancers become aware of the risks - both those associated with Covid-19 and otherwise - and make the best decision for themselves.

 

[sbrnsmith]

So you are totally ok with exposing the doctors, nurses and other frontline health workers if you get really sick and have to be brought to the hospital? It’s not a concern for you at all while ‘you take your chances with covid’

 

[Warren J. Dew]

There's no more threat to health workers from old people with Covid than from young people with Covid.

 

[snapdancer]

There's no more threat to health workers from old people with Covid than from young people with Covid.

If old people are more likely to require hospital admission or otherwise seek medical care, then your statement is not true.

 

[Warren J. Dew]

If old people are more likely to require hospital admission or otherwise seek medical care, then your statement is not true.

If hospital capacity were actually overloaded, that might be a valid point. It isn't. Even in New York City, they never had to use the overflow capacity that was provided by temporary facilities and the hospital ship.

Most medical workers are neither elderly nor at high risk. Those that are, at this point, should not be working in Covid-19 wards.

At most you can argue that medical workers would be at slightly lower risk if old people would just skip the exercise, get fat, and die of cancer instead of Covid-19, incidentally making the hospitals and the pharmaceutical companies far more money. That perverts the purpose of the medical system, however: it's supposed to be there for the good of the patients, not for the good of the practitioners, who after all get paid for their efforts.

 

[sbrnsmith]

Not talking about hospital capacity. Also your point that only elderly medical workers or those that are high risk get ill is not true. We are seeing many in the 21-49 age group get extremely sick. Also, there is exposure to medical workers of a high viral load, when seeing multiple Covid patients. Those patients requiring intubation or other procedures are also exposing us to high viral loads. Which makes it almost certain that we will get sick. At some hospitals, a third of the workers are out, causing short staffing.
To also just say that those that are elderly or at risk shouldn’t work the Covid wards is simplistic. Many don’t have a choice. Many are deployed to those areas where they are needed. Most don’t want to lose their jobs as it’s their livelihood.
As far as getting paid for our efforts, perhaps you have missed all the reports of hospitals across the country losing money and having to furlough staff and pay cuts of 30-50 percent for staff including frontline workers. Bottom line is, this virus is extremely contagious, and can cause multi organ failure and is deadly. To casually say you will take your chances with it, is ok if it only affects you. But it won’t- it will put everyone around you at risk, especially those that work in the hospital.