The following guidelines for the SARS-CoV2 pandemic have been established for all Chado Uransenke Tankokai Philadelphia (CUTP) practitioners and participants
All CUTP practitioners and participants are asked to follow the guidelines set by the local officials and institutions where we conduct our activities.
As of August 12, 2021, Philadelphia city officials put a new mask mandate into effect for indoor businesses and institutions.
CUTP practitioners, demonstration participants, and guests will wear masks for all activities that take place in a public setting except when drinking tea and eating sweets until this mandate is lifted.
In addition, we will also be incorporating the following practices according the guideline set by Urasenke Konnichian and Tankokai Headquarters.
- Asking all teachers, students, and demonstration participants to stay home if they have any symptoms of illness.
- Making every effort to practice social distancing.
- Using only one bowl for each person in both thin tea (usucha) and thick tea (koicha) rather than sharing a single bowl among multiple participants.
- Washing each tea bowl (chawan), bowl wiping cloth (chakin), and tea whisk (chasen) in hot water after each lesson, demonstration, or other gathering.
- Washing or cleaning all implements after each tea gathering as appropriate for the type of utensil.
- Ventilating the space as much as possible.
- When serving moist sweets, using individual chopsticks and serving dishes rather than passing a single dish and set of chopsticks between guests.
- Washing hands with soap and water or using hand sanitizer before preparing tea.