Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the passage of aerosol particles when singing; and for what reason are singers exempt from the requirement to wear face coverings introduced on 30 November 2021.

Some activities can increase the risk of transmitting COVID-19, including singing. This has been demonstrated through studies including the NERVTAG and PERFORM studies.

However, in some circumstances, people cannot do their work activity effectively while wearing a face covering. The DCMS ‘Working safely during coronavirus: Events and attractions’ (updated on 22nd December) explains that professional performers (and amateur performers who are part of professional activities) are not required to wear a face covering while they are performing or rehearsing, but should be encouraged to do so if possible.