BYU Fall 2020
COVID-19 and Choir
Professor Jose L. Jimenez - Dept. of Chemistry
COVID-19 Airborne Transmission Tool
(download spreadsheet here)
Risk Assessment Based on Research
University of Colorado-Boulder
2
KNOWN VARIABLES
ASSUMED VARIABLES
Risk Assessment Variables
Surface Area (sq/ft)
Ceiling Height (ft)
Singers in Choir
Rehearsal Length
Asymptomatic Individuals
Ventilation*
Emission Rate*
Exhalation Efficiency*
3
Ventilation
Emission Rate
Exhalation Efficiency
“Air changes per hour”
Skagit Choir is 0.7
Using 0.7
“Air emission” (previous research)
Standing - Loud Speaking: 65.1 q/h
Light Exercise - Loud Speaking: 170 q/h
Heavy Exercise - Loud Speaking: 408 q/h
“Super spreader”: 970 q/h
Using 970 q/h
“Mask effectiveness”
N-95 Mask: 90%
Surgical Masks: 65%
Cloth/homemade mask: 50%
Using 50%
4
Safety Precautions
5
Sanitation and temperature
check before
each rehearsal
6 feet social
distancing
between the
choir members
Sick students
cannot
come to
rehearsal
Calculations
Surface Area
Ceiling Height
Singers in Choir
Rehearsal Length
Asymptomatic Individuals
Ventilation
Emission Rate
Exhalation Efficiency
Skagit
1800 sq/ft
16 ft
60 singers
150 minutes
1 singer
0.7
970
0%
Probability of Infection
82.91%
Worst Case BYU
Typical BYU
9300 sq/ft
25 ft
40 singers
80 minutes
1 singer
0.7
970
50%
3.95%
9300 sq/ft
25 ft
40 singers
45 minutes
1 singer
0.7
170
50%
0.29%
6
Mask Efficacy and Solo Singing
NO MASK
WITH MASK
7
Mask Options
8