Z Space/Word for Word Infectious Disease Safety Policy
for Rehearsals and Performances
As of September 5, 2025
Actors’ Equity Association (“Equity”) and Z Space/Word for Word are committed to ensuring safe and sanitary places of employment for Actors and Stage Managers. Accordingly, Equity and Employer enter into this Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) regarding infectious diseases control for Theaters. Read the full MOU here. The following has been edited by Z Space to focus on the information relevant to San Francisco, our venues, and this production.
This policy outlines specific steps that Z Space/Word for Word takes to safeguard employees’ health and well-being during widespread outbreaks of infectious bacterial or viral diseases, while ensuring our ability to maintain essential operations while safeguarding our community.
Infectious Disease is defined as an illness caused by germs (such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites) that enter the body, multiply and cause infection. Contagious/communicable diseases can spread from person to person. Best practices include a period of isolation that
separates sick people with contagious disease from those who are not sick. The length of time for isolation is determined by CDC guidelines and varies based on the infection present.
Please follow the following protocols during the production period.If you have symptoms of an illness that may be contagious, notify the Safety Manager immediately.
If you have a fever, do not come to rehearsal, please inform the Safety Manager. Follow CDC guidelines for isolation and care relevant to your particular symptoms. Keep in communication with the Stage Manager about your health status and progress. Protocols Regarding COVID-19:
Z Space recommends but no longer requires that everyone in the building (patrons, staff, artists, etc) to be vaccinated against COVID-19. However, Z Space does require all employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
1. DEFINITIONS
a. “Vaccinated” as defined by the CDC (i.e., more than 14 calendar days following receipt of a final dose of an FDA or World Health Organization authorized or approved vaccine).
b. “COVID-19 Community Risk Level” are the CDC’s current metrics for assessing community risk. There are three risk levels: High (Red), Medium (Yellow), and Low (Green) on the CDC website.
c. “Production Group” refers to Actors, Stage Managers, and individuals who interact with Equity Members for the production.
2. SAFETY MANAGER
Z Space has designated the Production Manager to oversee COVID-19 and infectious disease protocols including but not limited to ensuring the space has been cleaned, sanitized and properly ventilated and that there is a station prepared with hand sanitizer and masks. The Production Manager is also responsible for managing weekly testing and ensuring members
Z Space/Word for Word Infectious Disease Safety Policy for Rehearsals as of 9.5.25
of the Production Group who are regularly attending rehearsal are either provided with COVID-19 tests or reimbursed for the use of their own.
3. TESTING
First Rehearsal COVID-19 Testing Requirement: Members of the Production Group, Z Space and Word for Word Staff, as well as all guests of first rehearsal will be required to test for COVID-19 prior to attending first rehearsal or will be asked to wear a mask while in the rehearsal space.
A Covid-19 test result will need to be submitted (via email or phone) to the Safety Manager (Ted Cordano, Stage Manager) at least 4 hours before the start of first rehearsal. A lack of the receipt of a test result will require the individual to be masked during rehearsal. EMAIL: tedcordano0@gmail.com / PHONE:(650) 303-7387
Weekly COVID-19 testing:
The Safety Manager will administer weekly testing specifically for COVID-19.
Members of the Production Group who will be required to submit their COVID-19 test result to the Safety Manager at least 4 hours prior to the start of rehearsal. The weekly testing schedule for COVID-19 will be determined by the Safety Manager after the first week of rehearsal.
Testing Costs: Any costs relating to Covid-19 screening and testing shall be the sole responsibility of the Employer.
COVID-19 and Infection Disease Monitoring:
Symptom Monitoring: Anyone in the Production Group who becomes ill must report their symptoms to the Safety Manager and will not be allowed to attend work in person until they have determined that they are no longer contagious or testing positive for COVID-19.
Protocols Following a Positive COVID-19 test:
d. If anyone in the Production Group tests positive for COVID-19, that individual will not be allowed to attend work in person until they have tested negative for COVID-19.
e. . The Safety Manager will (i) ensure that anyone with a positive test immediately isolates from the Production Group and (ii) encourage them to contact their licensed health care provider for further instructions. The Safety Manager will stay in contact with the Production Group member who tested positive to follow the most recent CDC COVID-19 protocols on isolating.
f. Producer shall continue full compensation for actors and stage managers requiring self-isolation. Producer’s obligation to continue compensation and housing shall not be limited by the expiration of an actor or stage manager’s individual employment agreement, provided the actor or stage manager remains under self-isolation. Any cancellation of rehearsal or performances related to COVID-19 will not reduce actors or stage managers’ rights to compensation, housing, and other benefits under this contract.
g. Actors and Stage Managers who may have been exposed to an individual who tested positive for Covid-19 will be immediately notified. The Employer will maintain confidentiality as required by federal, state, and local law. 2
Z Space/Word for Word Infectious Disease Safety Policy for Rehearsals as of 9.5.25
h. In the event of a positive test in the Production Group, follow-up testing shall be conducted immediately for any individual(s) in the Production Group whom the Covid-19 Safety Manager determines was exposed.
i. If there are more than two positives for Covid-19 in the Production Group within three consecutive days, a round of follow-up testing shall be conducted
immediately for the Production Group.
SOURCES:
1.https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-19-Isolation-Guidanc e.aspx
2. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html
Z Space/Word for Word Infectious Disease Safety Policy for Rehearsals as of 9.5.25
