Updated COVID-19 Preparedness Plan for Northern Starz Center

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Northern Starz Center for the Performing Arts (NSCPA) is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all participants, staff and audience members. To ensure that, we have developed the following health and safety plan in response to the COVID-19 and the resent increase in cases. Our goal is to mitigate the potential for transmission of COVID-19 in Northern Starz, and that requires full cooperation among staff, families and audience members. Only through this cooperative effort can we establish and maintain the safety and health of Northern Starz. Management and workers are responsible for implementing and complying with all aspects of this Preparedness Plan. NSCPA managers and staff have our full support in enforcing the provisions of this policy. Our workers and students are our most important assets. We are serious about safety and health and keeping our employees and students safe at NSCPA. Worker involvement is essential in developing and implementing a successful COVID-19 Preparedness Plan. Our Preparedness Plan addresses:

• hygiene and respiratory etiquette. 

• engineering and administrative controls for social distancing. 

• housekeeping – cleaning, disinfecting and decontamination.

• prompt identification and isolation of sick persons. 

• communications and training that will be provided to managers and workers; and 

• management and supervision necessary to ensure effective implementation of the plan. 

Screening and policies for employees and volunteers exhibiting signs and symptoms of COVID-19 

Workers and volunteers have been informed of and encouraged to self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19. The following policies and procedures are being implemented to assess workers’ health status prior to entering the workplace and for workers to report when they are sick or experiencing symptoms. We will request all workers to self-screen at home and to stay home if they are experiencing any symptoms and if symptoms develop while at work, they will be sent home. 

NSCPA has implemented leave policies that promote staff and contract employees to stay home when they are sick, when household members are sick, or when required by a health care provider to isolate or quarantine themselves or a member of their household. Accommodations for staff and contract employees with underlying medical conditions or who have household members with underlying health conditions have been implemented. 

In addition, a policy has been implemented to protect the privacy of workers’ health status and health information. All health information will remain confidential unless consent has been given by the individual. 

Basic infection prevention measures are being implemented at NSCPA at all times. Staff is instructed to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water frequently throughout the day, but especially at the beginning and end of their shift, prior to any mealtimes and after using the toilet. All visitors to the facility will be required to wash their hands prior to or immediately upon entering the facility. Hand-sanitizer dispensers (that use sanitizers of greater than 60% alcohol) that can be used for hand hygiene in place of soap and water have been distributed throughout the theatre, and outside for classes, as long as hands are not visibly soiled. We have also placed hand sanitizer at the entrance of every door.  Hand washing signs have been placed in each restroom.

Workers and visitors are being instructed to cover their mouth and nose with their sleeve or a tissue when coughing or sneezing and to avoid touching their face, in particular their mouth, nose and eyes, with their hands. They should dispose of tissues in the trash and wash or sanitize their hands immediately afterward. Respiratory etiquette will be demonstrated on posters and supported by making tissues and trash receptacles available outside and throughout the facility. 

All person are required to wear a face mask in the building. NSCPA has disposable (not medical) face masks available for staff and visitors to wear while participating in classes/camps and all are welcome to bring/wear their own face mask as well. 

Social distancing is being implemented in the workplace through the following engineering and administrative controls: Northern Starz is making the following available: use Zoom for conference calls, flexible work hours to reduce the number of employees in the workplace at one time; maintain six feet of distance between workers; provide signage or instructions for employees and visitors; support communications plans to address staff concerns; etc. NSTC will provide recommended protective supplies, such as masks, gloves, disinfectant, and sanitizer, etc. Staff and students are prohibited from gathering in groups and from using other workers’ and students’ personal protective equipment, phones, computer equipment, desks, cubicles, workstations, offices or other personal work tools and equipment. 

Classes and Clamps: All classes and camps held at Northern Starz will contain 10 individuals or less (including the instructor) and students will be encourage to stay 6ft apart whenever possible. 

Regular housekeeping practices are being implemented, including routine cleaning and disinfecting of work surfaces, equipment, tools and machinery, and areas in the work environment, including restrooms, rehearsal spaces, lobby and meeting rooms. Frequent cleaning and disinfecting will be conducted in high-touch areas, such as phones, keyboards, touch screens, controls, door handles, copy machines, etc. NSTC staff and volunteers will clean and disinfect all areas using recommended products to clean the workplace. If a worker is diagnosed with COVID-19, NSTC will close and have the facility cleaned and disinfected. 

Northern Starz Theatre will deep clean and disinfect the art center facility on a weekly basis.

This Preparedness Plan was communicated by NSCPA to all staff, contract employees and board members on May 25th .  Additional communication and training will be ongoing via email updates as needed. Staff and Contract Employees are to monitor how effective the program has been implemented by informing of any changes that may be needed to ensure safety of all. Staff and Contract Employees are to work through this new program together and update the training, as necessary. This updated Preparedness Plan has been certified by NSCPA Board of Directors and was posted throughout the workplace on January 13, 2022 . It will be updated as necessary.