Orchestra saliva spray contagion summary: Concerts restart under COVID-19

Due to COVID-19, many artistic activities including concerts and live performances have been canceled around the world. As concerns of the infectious disease persist, it is expected that the methods of artistic activities will change significantly.

The main route of infections of the COVID-19 are said to be "contagion via saliva spray" and "contact infection".

Since wind instruments are played with the mouth, there is particular concern about the risk of "contagion via saliva spray ". Therefore, so I will introduce a summary of the actual results verified by each musical instrument manufacturer and orchestra.

◆ Yamaha Corporation (in cooperation with / Shin Nippon Air Technologies Co., Ltd)

Visualization experiment of wind instruments and educational instruments
These are the results of an experiment that observed the scattering distance and spread to the left and right of five musical instruments with different playing methods (flute, alto saxophone, trumpet, soprano recorder, keyboard harmonica). Sneezing and vocalizations have also been included for comparison.

○ Experiment outline:

○ Zoom near the sound source

○ Scatter distance

○ Left and right spread of spray

◆ Auros Toyama Musical Instruments Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (in cooperation with Shin Nippon Air Technologies Co., Ltd)

Visible droplet animation and infectious disease control when playing a recorder

◆ Classical Music Performance Management Promotion Council

Guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19 infections in classical music performances Starting with measures to prevent the spread of infection, such as hand-washing, hand and finger disinfection, non-contact temperature measurement, wearing of masks, etc. at department stores around the world, requests to refrain from gathering and groups, rehearsal timing, etc. The guidelines for each performer are listed.

Classical Music Performance Management Promotion Council

It is only natural that human life takes priority over cultural and artistic activities in times like these. However, music and entertainment heals our hearts during this period of self-restraint. Some artists are starting to hold concerts with online live audiences or social distancing, and I just pray that artistic activities can be resumed quickly and safely.