Covid Safety in 2026
As a disability-led and run company, Opera Mariposa recognizes that addressing the risks of COVID-19 and other airborne illnesses is a critical part of creating accessible spaces. As we head into 2026, the public health landscape (and assorted viruses) continue to evolve – but luckily, so do the tools to help keep everyone safer!
Below are some of our favourite resources to help artists, organizers and audiences engage in community care and create more inclusive events. We are grateful to the many experts and advocates who’ve assisted with our own safety materials, with special thanks to the public health specialists at Protect Our Province BC.
April 2026 update: A brand new resource on Immuno-inclusivity in Opera is coming later this year! Learn more about it here, and stay tuned for further updates.
CAC Artist Connect
Clean Air Club Artist Connect is a networking hub for Covid-safer, immuno-inclusive artists. Artists can share the health and safety measures they regularly take, as well as the precautions they’re willing to take in order to work with collaborators.
Initiative by: Clean Air Club (CAC)
Canadian Aerosol Transmission Coalition
The Canadian Aerosol Transmission Coalition is comprised of multidisciplinary experts who provide recommendations around COVID-19 and other airborne illnesses. Their site includes a wide variety of resources, including presentations, articles, studies and reports.
Initiative by: Canadian Aerosol Transmission Coalition
Canadian COVID-19 Hazard Index
The Canadian COVID-19 Hazard index is a biweekly report on COVID levels and impacts in each province and territory. (For the US version, visit the Pandemic Mitigation Collaborative.) Note that COVID-19 Resources Canada offers other resources including bilingual Q&As on Zoom, custom COVID risk assessments, and more.
Initiative by: COVID-19 Resources Canada
Canadian Covid Society
The Canadian Covid Society is Canada’s national nonprofit dedicated to educating people about the health consequences of Covid infections, advocate for science-based protections, and supporting people with Long Covid. Their site contains everything from position papers to educational webinars.
Initiative by: Canadian Covid Society
Clean Air Lending Libraries
This worldwide map of Clean Air Lending Libraries features groups and organizations that allow you to borrow air purifiers, to contribute to creating safer spaces and reducing risks of both airborne illnesses and pollution (including wildfire smoke).
Initiative by: Clean Air Club
Clean Air Crew
Clean Air Crew provides a collection of tips and tools for an airborne pandemic, including fact sheets, F.A.Q.s, instructions for DIY air purifiers and much more.
Initiative by: Clean Air Crew
Clean Air 604
Clean Air 604 is an organization aimed at providing events with free masks, air purifiers, and more in order to facilitate safer arts spaces in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
Seeking clean air resources outside the Lower Mainland? Check out this global map.
Initiative by: Clean Air 604
CO2 Monitor Lending Program Map
The CO2 (carbon dioxide) loan program map shows libraries across Canada and beyond, which let people borrow air quality monitors for free. CO2 levels are often used to assess whether spaces have enough fresh air. This can also help assess communicable disease risks, since stale air can contain more germs – learn more here.
Initiative by: CAVI, Community Access to Ventilation Information
COVID-Safe Conference Guidelines
COVID-Safe Conference Guidelines is a resource providing six simple guidelines for conference organizers to better protect attendees’ health.
Initiative by: Prof Deborah Lupton, Master of Public Health, PhD
Covid Safer Events Toronto
Covid Safer Events Toronto is dedicated to uplifting masked and hybrid events in Toronto. Community care is disability justice.
Initiative by: Covid Safer Events Toronto
Donate a Mask
Donate A Mask is a volunteer-run charity that ships free N95-equivalent respirator masks to anyone in Canada who requests them, with the aim of aiding vulnerable people and those experiencing financial barriers. People can support the project through donations, or by shopping their charity store.
Initiative by: Evidence-Based Social Enterprises Canada
Essential Opera Health & Safety Plan
Essential Opera’s Health & Safety Plan is a template to support COVID-safer spaces for artists and communities. It is available for free or pay-what-you-can.
Initiative by: Essential Opera
Human Rights Resources for COVID-19
These human rights resources for COVID-19 come directly from BC’s independent Human Rights Commissioner. They include letters, media releases and policy statements to guide decision-making from a human rights-centred perspective.
Initiative by: BC Office of the Human Rights Commissioner
It’s Airborne
It’s Airborne is a blog by a professional engineer aimed at educating people about ventilation, filtration, and general air cleaning to protect themselves from COVID. It includes many introductory explainers about indoor air quality.
Initiative by: Joey Fox, P.Eng.
Locked Out (of the Arts)
Locked Out (of the Arts) documents how the performing arts has shut out disabled, immunocompromised, chronically ill and otherwise Covid-cautious folks due to failure to implement Covid precautions – and showcases the work of some fantastic marginalized artists.
Initiative by: Occasionally Original & Lani Boschulte
Long COVID Justice
Long COVID Justice leads grassroots, collective efforts to confront the Long COVID crisis, while centering racial, social, economic and disability justice. Their wide array of resources includes webinars, guides, toolkits and more.
Initiative by: Strategies for High Impact
MaskBloc.org
MaskBloc.org maintains a comprehensive directory of mutual aid projects known as “mask blocs”, which distribute N95-style masks for free. Some mask blocs also distribute other safety supplies as well (such as rapid tests).
Initiative by: MaskBloc.org
OSPE Air Quality Calculator
The OSPE Air Quality Calculator is a free tool to quickly calculate indoor air quality, using things like venue size or number of attendees. It is offered by the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers, which has an Indoor Air Quality advisory group of subject matter experts.
Initiative by: Ontario Society of Professional Engineers
People’s CDC
The People’s CDC is a coalition of public health practitioners, scientists, healthcare workers, educators, advocates and people from all walks of life working to reduce the impacts of COVID-19. They offer a wide array of helpful resources, including handouts, webinars, and weekly COVID weather reports for the US.
Initiative by: People’s CDC
Practicing Inclusion in the Time of COVID
Practicing Inclusion in the Time of COVID is a guide for creating more accessible gatherings, available in English and Spanish. It also links to other resources.
Initiative by: Strategies for High Impact
Protect Our Province BC
Protect Our Province BC is an independent group of physicians, nurses, health scientists, health policy specialists and community advocates. They provide many resources including live briefings on COVID-19 – and can offer free safety plan feedback as well!
If you’re located outside of British Columbia, be sure to check for a “Protect Our Province” group in your province.
Initiative by: Protect Our Province BC
Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) F.A.Q.
This Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) resource includes a how-to video featuring an updated swab technique for better test accuracy, as well as an F.A.Q. compiled by public health experts.
Initiative by: Protect Our Province BC
See You Safer
See You Safer is an easy resource providing strategies for safer in-person gatherings. It includes slides, a downloadable PDF, and an event checklist.
Initiative by: People’s CDC
Still COVIDing Canada
Still COVIDing Canada is bilingual site providing information, resources, and the latest news articles and research about COVID-19. It offers a monthly news roundup by newsletter to stay in the know – and as a bonus, the site’s news clippings can be shared directly to Facebook and Instagram!
Initiative by: Still COVIDing community in Ottawa-Gatineau
World Health Network
The World Health Network (WHN) is a global community and independent task force devoted to protecting health and minimizing harm in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their resources include guidelines, infographics, data reporting and more.
Initiative by: World Health Network
Last updated April 25, 2026
Know a resource we should add? Drop us a line.
