Fascinating and valuable discussion.  Our policy requires the test for any unmasked talent to be completed immediately before they enter the hall, on the principle that anyone with a low enough virus load to pass a rapid test is unlikely to pose a risk to the dancers.  This adds a dimension we hadn't considered.  Losing a caller or musician at the last minute is a serious problem, and adding to the time lag between the test and the end of the dance increases the risk.

Martin

Liz, that makes perfect sense in retrospect. However, many venues do not require testing for folks who remain masked and have had a "test in to unmask" approach for performers while on stage (where they were masked elsewhere and, until receiving a negative result, on stage as well).

Greenfield's own central policy states:

"Band members may unmask when on-stage for some series, but only if they have a negative rapid test on the day of the dance. Event publicity will clearly state whether performers may be unmasked at that specific event."

Note there's no specific timeline stated there for when the testing shall happen other than it be on the day of.

That's the point I'm raising from our recent experience.

-Don