Broadway League Extends Mask and Vaccine Requirements Through February 28

The mask requirement is getting to be a bit ridiculous. Those who wish to be extra cautious, should feel free to keep on wearing them -- for all others it should be optional.

I honestly don't care lol. I'll go to the theatre with mask requirements, I'll go without them. I'm just happy theatre is back.

I’m of mixed mind about this. On one hand, making sure everyone is vaccinated who enters, it’s as safe (or safer) than going to a restaurant in the city that has the same requirements, but where everyone will be talking, eating etc. So looking at it like that, there is an argument that it’s not necessary.
On the other hand, it’s an extra safety step in place to protect both the audience and the actors and if, for the time being, that extra step (which may or may not be effective or needed) is going to help keep theater running, then I’ll wear the mask as long as they want me to.

I do not live in NYC so I’m not following this closely but does the Broadway League do their own thing outside of what the city does? For example, say NYC lifts the vaccine requirement that’s in place, can the League still have one since it’s a private business or does their requirement lift once NYC’s does?

Good - If I need to be vaccinated and masked to work in the office then continue the requirements for attending Broadway shows!

My anxiety was at a 5 or 6 seeing Caroline, or Change (mostly because it was my first show back). It ratcheted back up to 8 or 9 for the Jessica Vosk concert at Carnegie Hall tonight. These requirements are the bare minimum with few people really quarantining anymore and no control over what people are doing outside the theater.

I was at the concert (which was stellar) and felt very safe. Ushers worked hard, masks were on for all I could see (I was side second tier so could view a lot) and my vaccines were checked.

It sounds like every other show now. As for people taking their masks off outside - that’s what we do. It’s rare for me to see more than a handful of people anywhere in the city wearing a mask outside.
Hopefully I’m time you’ll feel safer. Just takes some getting used to.

VintageSnarker said: "My anxiety was at a 5 or 6 seeing Caroline, or Change (mostly because it was my first show back). It ratcheted back up to 8 or 9 for the Jessica Vosk concert at Carnegie Hall tonight. These requirements are the bare minimum with few people really quarantining anymore and no control over what people are doing outside the theater."

I'll take your ticket.

HogansHero said: "Private businesses can (in the absence of discriminating etc) set their own rules, just as many shops have done in the current situation. (Technically, one need only wear a mask in a shop if one is not vaccinated, but there are many shops that require that everyone wear masks.) I'm happy to have masks so long as we have breakthrough infections and Delta and I will continue to wear one until I am satisfied that time has passed. But this is one of those instances where we are dealing with public risks vs private risks. Epidemiologically we don't want to create a ton of breakthrough infections in a theatre. My guess is that we will lose masking by February but not the vaccine requirement which frankly works quite well and has been good for business."

I'm confused. Are you looking to eliminate breakthroughs and Delta altogether? Because Delta isn't going anywhere (with an R0 of up to 8-9). And, ideally, we want to get so many people vaccinated, that the majority of infections are breakthrough infections. That's what happened in Provincetown, and it was hailed as an immunological success, by epidemiologists (despite what the glorious fear mongering media will have you believe).

I'm not being rhetorical or snarky, I'm genuinely asking. Because I've always found your past commentary on Covid to be logical and realistic.

Jordan Catalano said: "It sounds like every other show now. As for people taking their masks off outside - that’s what we do. It’s rare for me to see more than a handful of people anywhere in the city wearing a mask outside.
Hopefully I’m time you’ll feel safer. Just takes some getting used to."

I agree.... though back a year ago when everyone wasn't vaccinated, majority of folks in NYC wore masks even outside.

I don’t think the mask requirement in and of itself is ridiculous but I do think it’s a bit ridiculous making the decision this far in advance. Thousands more people will likely be vaccinated (and/or get boosters) between now and February. Considering it was only a few weeks ago they extended the mandate til January, i don’t get why they didn’t just wait til closer to then to decide whether or not it was necessary to extend it further.