No singing or dancing allowed even as Ontario patios, places of worship reopen

Whistle while you work to helpOntariobounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic but please, don't sing.

That's the gist of the message coming from the provincial government, which has included explicit bans onsinging even dancing in parts of its plan to reopen businesses temporarily shuttered by the deadly outbreak.

Stage 2 ofOntario's economic recovery plan contains numerousguidance documents for sectors cleared to resume or expand their operations.

The guidance prepared for restaurants and bars states that both singingand dancing are banned in the outdoor seating areas where customers are currently allowed to gather in limited numbers.

Documents statesingingis also banned in child-care settings and discouraged in places of worship that were given the green light to open their doors acrossOntariolast week.

The provincial ministry of health says the anti-crooning commandments are rooted in science, and doctors with expertise inthe matter agree.

"It's gross to think about, but every time we talk, we'respitting into the world around us," said Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease physician and scientist with the Toronto General Hospital.

Virus swept through U.S. choir

"And if we'resinging, shouting or breathing heavily, we're likely expelling more saliva and nasal secretions... and if someone's infected, then those secretions will shed more virus."

Bogoch said the rules may sound extreme, but they likely stem from a tragedy that played out in the United States in the early days of that country's COVID-19 lockdown.

According to a report posted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the novel coronavirus swept through a Washington state choir that met for rehearsals in early March. The report found two members of the Skagit Valley chorale died of COVID-19, and as many as 87 per cent of choir members were found to have confirmed or probable cases.

"Transmission was likely facilitated by close proximity ... during practice and augmented by the act ofsinging," the report said.

Ministry of Health spokeswoman Hayley Chazan said similar thinking went into the province's guidance.

"Evidence indicatessingingmay involve a greater risk thannormal speech, especiallysingingloudly," she said.

Ontario's guidelines vary slightly by sector, with the advice for restaurants stating that "no dancing orsingingmay be permitted inthe outdoor dining areas," which are the only ones cleared for use during Stage 2.

Rules apply to places of worship too

The guidelines for places of worship, currently allowed tooperate at 30 per cent capacity provincewide, are even more specific.

The government said congregationalsingingor chanting should besuspended, leavingsingingduties to a cantor or soloist positioned at least four metres away from worshippers. Wind instruments arealso discouraged under the same guidelines.

"We've acknowledged in our communication with parishioners that some of what we are asking is uncomfortable or awkward but we're doing it out of love and concern for our neighbour," MacCarthy said. "If we want to be able to have churches open, these are the restrictions we need to employ."

"Live music and dancing may be something that we look to revisit onceOntariois further along with easing emergency health and safety measures, but for now this restriction will not hinder reopening plans," Rilett said.

Child-care sector also discouraged from singing

Recommendations for the child-care sector, also cleared to resumelimited operations, discouragesingingactivities performed indoors.

The Ministry of Health's guidance for day camps also counsels against indoorsingingand encourages standard physical distancing protocols forsingingconducted outdoors.

Parents and child-care providers who took to social media tovoice their views on the rules were in harmony on one point: such a measure risks introducing a sour note to the day-care experience for all involved.

"Not only issinginga fun way to engage children in care, it isan important tool that educators use to teach language, regulate attention and aid in emotional regulation, especially during transitions," said Toronto-based early childhood educator Paula Bordieri.

"Singingis not my forte, but it is an important part of my program."