Chorus of calls to scrap Covid limits on choirs

A TOP virus expert is calling on the Government to scrap Covid rules on choirs.

While limits on non- professional indoor sports teams and exercise classes were eased in May, singers have been told it is still unsafe for them to practise in groups larger than six so choirs have been forced to meet outdoors or over video calls.

Other music groups, such as bands and orchestras, have been able to return to practising in large groups. Professor Jackie Cassell, public health expert at Brighton and Sussex Medical School, said: ‘It does seem very strange that the Government has singled out singing among all things. We know so much now about how to make venue spaces safe, so there needs to be stronger evidence justifying why the Government is keeping these rules in place.’

Professor Iain Buchan, publichealth expert at the University of Liverpool said: ‘An increasing number of the population are vaccinated, making it easier to control the virus.

‘There is an increased risk of infection from singing and being close together with people, but with much of the vulnerable vaccinated, the risk of them catching the virus is low. It’s important to think about all benefits to activities, and that includes mental health, which singing can be very beneficial for.’

Since May 18, the Government has allowed indoor, non-professional performing art activities to resume in unlimited numbers, provided the performers are separated around the room into groups of six. However, singing groups–of which there are more than 40,000 of in the UK – are the only exception to this rule, and were told they must be limited to six people while indoors.

Barbara Eifler, chief executive of Making Music, the UK’s largest organisation for amateur musicians, said this decision was hard to take.

She said: ‘ Choirs have been very, very upset. Community singing is important to so many people. It’s good for their mental and physical wellbeing.

‘Many of our members have not been able to meet their choir for the past 15 months now.

‘It’s hard to take that people can meet indoors for a netball match, but we can’t sing.’

Early on in the pandemic there were several recorded cases of Covid- 19 outbreaks in choir groups. In March 2020, 45 people out of 60 who showed up for a socially distanced choir practice in Washington, US were infected with the virus. Two members of the choir died.

However, experts say these cases have been overblown.

Prof Cassell s ai d: ‘ There have been a number of high-profile outbreaks in choirs, but there’s no real way to know if the singing was to blame in these cases.’

The restrictions now in place on choirs are stricter than those in place in September and October, when they were able to meet unrestricted.

Ms Eifler said the majority of the more vulnerable members of choirs have now had both their vaccine jabs. Prof Buchan said there are many things choirs could do to limit transmission and added: ‘Being far apart in a well-ventilated space will reduce the risk.’