Choirs: Coronavirus

(asked on 25th May 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what evidence, research or data the Government has assessed on the effectiveness of (a) limiting numbers based on the venue size, (b) maintaining social distancing and (c) other covid-19 safety measures on helping to limit transmission of the covid-19 virus within an amateur choir setting.


Answered by
Caroline Dinenage Portrait
Caroline Dinenage
This question was answered on 3rd June 2021

Decisions on Step 3 were taken collectively across Government before 17th May. The updated Performing Arts guidance sets out how venues and organisers should operate in Step 3.

I know that the restrictions on singing are frustrating to large numbers of amateur choirs and performance groups across the country and that many people have made sacrifices in order to drive down infections and protect the NHS over the last year. I want to assure you that everyone across the government wants to ease these restrictions as soon as possible.

However, it is important that we take a cautious approach in easing restrictions. We have followed the views of public health experts on singing. We are aware, through the NERVTAG and PERFORM studies that singing can increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission through the spread of aerosol droplets. This was backed up by a consensus statement from SAGE, resulting in the suggested principles of safer singing being published.

We will continue to keep guidance and restrictions under review, in line with the changing situation. Further detail on step 4 will be set out as soon as possible.

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