ISSUED TO ALL MEMBER BANDS 25 JULY 2020

This updated advice note replaces that issued on 1^st July 2020. It has been drawn up to reflect changes agreed by the NI Executive on 23 July. It will be kept under review by the Brass Band League.

1. Indoor meetings (not playing e.g. band committee meetings, AGMs etc)

The Health Regulations in Northern Ireland allow up to ten people from four different households to meet indoors in a private dwelling (i.e. someone’s home).

The Regulations also allow for up to 30 people to meet indoors in premises other than a private dwelling (e.g. a band hall) where the gathering is not an organised one – for example, up to 30 people could meet in a band hall for an Annual General Meeting.

If you decide to meet indoors you should do so as safely as possible and follow public health advice by:

• limiting the duration of visits
• ensuring good ventilation
• maintaining good hand hygiene
• practicing social distancing where possible
• stagger arrival and departure times
• keep an accurate record of attendance, including arrival and departure times, and contact details for potential use in contact tracing. 

The use of a face covering is also strongly advised.

If using toilets these should be cleaned before and after each use and the lid lowered when flushing to reduce the spread of aerosols. 

2. Indoor musical activities (music lessons, section rehearsals, full band rehearsals)

As at 1 above, up to 10 people from four households can meet in a private dwelling. This could allow for individual and small group lessons or sectional rehearsals to take place in someone’s home.

The Health Regulations also allow for any number of people to meet indoors where the gathering is organised or operated for cultural, entertainment, social or educational reasons. The person responsible for organising or operating the gathering must:

• have carried out a risk assessment which meets the requirements of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000(b), whether or not that person is subject to those Regulations;
• take all reasonable measures to limit the risk of transmission of the coronavirus, including implementing the preventive and protective measures identified in the risk assessment undertaken in accordance with sub-paragraph (a) and
• comply with any relevant guidance issued by a Northern Ireland Department.

The public health advice at 1 applies. In addition you should:

• Strictly observe social distancing of 2m in all directions while playing and aim instruments away from other players where possible 
• Individuals should each handle only their own music stand and music, and take all equipment home after each meeting
• Bring a towel or similar to empty water keys onto. This should only be handled by the individual, removed by them and cleaned or disposed of after each use
• Instruments should be cleaned after each use
• Extra cleaning of mouthpieces should be observed
• There should be no sharing of instruments or accessories i.e. mutes or valve oil
• After rehearsals the area should be thoroughly cleaned before being used by anyone else i.e. crawling children
• Ventilation should be increased as much as possible

Currently, theatres, concert halls and conference facilities (including those at hotels) are not permitted to re-open. The NI Executive has given an indicative date of 28 August for indoor spectators at events to be allowed.

3. Outdoor gatherings (rehearsals and performances)

Any number of people from different households can gather outdoors where the gathering is organised or operated for cultural, entertainment, social or educational reasons. The same conditions on risk assessments, limiting virus transmission and complying with guidance detailed at 2 above also apply.

This should allow outdoor rehearsals and performances to take place. However, please note that specific guidance on performance is being drawn up by the Arts Council NI. It is hoped this will be published in the near future but until that is available, the BBL would advise that the public health advice at 1 and the following are observed:

• Strictly observe social distancing of 2m in all directions while playing and aim instruments away from other players where possible 
• Individuals should each handle only their own music stand and music, and take all equipment home after each meeting
• Bring a towel or similar to empty water keys onto. This should only be handled by the individual, removed by them and cleaned or disposed of after each use
• Instruments should be cleaned after each use
• Extra cleaning of mouthpieces should be observed
• There should be no sharing of instruments or accessories i.e. mutes or valve oil
• Keep the activity time involved as short as possible
• Consider using screens or barriers to separate people from each other
• Avoid facing each other directly
• Reduce the number of people each person has contact with
• If using toilet facilities these should be cleaned before and after each use and the lid lowered when flushing to reduce the spread of aerosols. 

Seated outdoor performances such as in local parks may be undertaken but bands should liaise closely with organisers of events such as local councils on the responsibilities for risk assessment etc.

A standalone march or parade is permissible. The guidance is the same as for outdoor rehearsals, including compliance with any conditions of parading as set by the Parades Commission. Advice should be sought from the PSNI.

Notes on this advice

This advice does not apply directly to anyone currently in a vulnerable group/shielding. They should continue to follow the advice that remains in place for that group until the shielding period is paused on 31 July.  Similarly, anyone currently showing known symptoms of COVID-19 or who may have been in recent contact with someone who has, or those belonging to vulnerable categories, should not yet take part in any group activity but should remain at home in isolation.

Further Information

Health Regulations: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/health-protection-coronavirus-restrictions-no2-regulations-northern-ireland-2020

COVID-19 guidance: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19