COVID-19 Safety Protocol

Arden Drama School

Arden Theatre Company continues to prioritize the health, safety, and wellbeing of staff, patrons, and students while protecting the continuity of programs and essential functions. Toward that end, and effective immediately, these safety protocols, based on the most currently available information from the CDC and OSHA, are being implemented as follows.
The Arden has issued a vaccine mandate for all employees as of September 6, 2021. The protocols below are an extension of this mandate to address the specifics of returning to in-person work in the theatre. These protocols will be revisited regularly and amended as needed. Arden may also amend these protocols based on its operational needs.

To promote as safe of an environment as possible, the following protocols will be in effect for the duration of all Arden Drama School programming:

Masks and Respirators Indoors

• Masks and/or respirators are optional for all employees and ADS participants unless they are subject to the requirements set forth in the section regarding Protocols Following a Positive Test.
• When required, face coverings shall be either a close-fitting mask (i.e., surgical mask, multi-ply cloth mask) or respirator (i.e., N95, KN95 or KF94). All face covering must be worn correctly (covering the nose and mouth).

Symptom Monitoring:

• Symptoms of COVID-19 include but are not limited to:
• Cough
• Fever
• Sore or scratchy throat
• Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
• Runny nose
• Body aches, headache
• Diarrhea
• Nausea/vomiting
• If your participant develops a fever and/or any of these symptoms DO NOT COME TO CLASS/CAMP.
• Notify Hannah Cordes, Director of Education & Community Outreach at hcordes@ardentheatre.org or 215-922-8900 x128
• Contact your healthcare provider for further instructions
• The Arden reserves the right to ask caregivers to come get students who are displaying COVID or flu related symptoms
• If a participant develops symptoms while at the Arden, we will provide a mask and a space for them to isolate from the rest of the group until an adult can pick them up.

In the event of Covid-19 exposure: 

If your participant is exposed to Covid-19:

• Notify Hannah Cordes, Director of Education & Community Outreach at hcordes@ardentheatre.org or 215-922-8900 x128
• Wear a mask for 10 days. Day 0 is the day of last exposure. Day 1 is first full day after last exposure.
• Watch for symptoms and take precautions around others who may be more likely to get very sick from COVID-19.
• Test for COVID-19 on Day 6.
• If negative, continue masking and precautions through Day 10.
• If positive, isolate immediately and follow steps listed below.

In the event of a positive Covid-19 Test:

If your participant tests positive for Covid-19:

• Notify Hannah Cordes, Director of Education & Community Outreach at hcordes@ardentheatre.org or 215-922-8900 x128
• Participants who have tested positive for COVID-19 will not be permitted to attend Arden Drama School
• Participant may end isolation after 5 days if they are fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication, their symptoms are improving, and they have no
• new or worsening symptoms.
• Participants must wear a mask for 10 days after the positive test.
• Day 0 is the date of the positive test.

Vaccinations:

• The Arden does not require participants to be vaccinated, but it is strongly encouraged. Participants who are not vaccinated are encouraged to mask.
• The Arden has issued a vaccine mandate for all employees as of September 6, 2021.

The CDC, as of August 23, 2022 defines being up-to-date on vaccinations as when you have received all doses in the primary series and all boosters recommended for you, when eligible. At the time of this update, the Arden requires all employees to have completed the primary series of vaccinations and strongly encourages employees to receive all boosters for which they are eligible.

Testing:

• Students who experience symptoms of COVID-19 may be asked to test for the virus at their own expense.

Protocols following a positive test:

• If anyone in the camp/class tests positive for COVID-19, anyone who may have been exposed will be immediately notified.
• The Arden will maintain confidentiality as required by federal and state law.

Social Distancing

• The Arden does not require social distancing between participants at this time, but our staff will continue to encourage participants to respect each other’s personal space and boundaries.

Facilities

• Arden will aim to provide adequate ventilation via existing Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems (HVAC) for the all the spaces occupied by the staff and participants by way of incorporation of MERV-13 rated filters, increasing the amount of outside air provided by each system, and providing for regularly scheduled maintenance of said systems.
• The Arden will employ enhanced janitorial services to include regular cleaning of high-touch surfaces as well as providing sanitizing supplies for use by Arden staff as needed.

These protocols are subject to change as the environment around the Arden evolves. Thank you for working with us to provide a safe and fun space for youth engagement with theatre.