NYC Ending Covid Restrictions March 7th — Page 2

Personally, I'm ready to say goodbye to mask mandates - mainly because I think they're minimally effective and most of the regulations pertaining to them are senseless and contradictory - but I think it's too soon to do away with proof of vaccination requirements. I, for one, feel secure attending an indoor event where proof of vaccination is required. Knowing everyone in attendance has been vaccinated provided a sense of comfort. Ironically, come March 7, I'll think twice before making plans and be less inclined to go out to a restaurant, bar, club, etc., than I've been in the past 6 to 8 months.

One of my daughters was in New York City a couple of weeks ago. She was out and about, saw three shows, and was struck by the fact that vaccination and mask rules were enforced.

I've seen plays and musicals in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was interesting to me that the guy checking everyone vaccination status at the door at the Berkeley Rep on Sunday thanked me for wearing a mask and not making a fuss about it. I know the musical, Swept Away, has drawn audiences from all over the country due to the popularity of the Avett Brothers, the musical group whose score is used. I'm not sure if was out-of-towners complaining or locals. I doubt it was locals, especially given the demographics and the social dynamics that have supported most mandates in my neck of the woods.

But Luscious, while I'm more pro-mask than you are, I also will be much less inclined to go to crowded indoor theater spaces now that the political and commercial decision has been made to drop restrictions even on vaccinations. I have one more show I have tickets to see next week, and then I'll probably take some time off to see if the politicians bet correctly. It's the job of politicians to respond to public pressure, which is what they're doing by declaring that everything is normal even though well over 1,500 people are dying of COVID-19 every day - and they're not all unvaccinated. It might even be the "right" decision as far as preventing hospitals from being overrun. But it's mostly because people are sick of masks and the anti-vaxxers have won.

But I have to make my own personal risk assessment, as I'm not running for re-election. I'm not going to sit in a crowded indoor theater with a bunch of unvaccinated and unmasked people unless the politicians happen to get lucky. It's one thing to risk exposure because of my job. It's another thing to do it for entertainment. I'll stick to outdoor events and our deserted movie theaters.

I hope I'm wrong about all of this, and the folks on this board who think I'm overreacting turn out to be right, as there are shows I would like to see this spring and summer.

It does suck but it's a choice you made to be in such an unstable business. So, Fosse's point still stands.

Jordan Catalano said: "Just out running errands today, I’ve noticed a real seismic difference in mask wearing just compared to a day or two ago. It seems that I would say a good 60% of people I see now are comfortable taking it off inside stores (that are pretty much no longer enforcing it anyways). I have no idea when I will be comfortable joining them, but again, I am glad we are in a place where this is a reality."

I have no idea IF I will feel comfortable around the maskless in public indoor spaces again (exception: in restaurants). You’re taking a nice step forward, Jordan.

Updated On: 3/1/22 at 07:52 PM

Jordan Catalano said: "Oh I wouldn’t take mine off!! lolol"

Me too, buddy. Just so long as you keep entertaining me (and all of us) with all your thorough reviews.

Yes. I got it two weeks after getting my booster. But because of that, my “symptom” was my throat was sometimes dry.

Updated On: 3/1/22 at 11:28 PM

Sutton Ross said: "It does suck but it's a choice you made to be in such an unstable business. So, Fosse's point still stands."



Never said it wasn't. Simply said it was a potentially unpleasant surprise. I was unaware that in choosing to be in this unstable business, I had forfeited my right to be anything other than neutral about a given situation.

EDSOSLO858 said: "The Broadway League has made it clear that all current restrictions will stay in place through April 30, despite NYC letting their vaccine mandate expire on March 7th. An update on Broadway theatre guidance should be provided on or around April 1.


I guess this means we should expect mask and vaccine mandates inside theatres for the long haul."

Source for this April 1 update?

eurydice3 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "The Broadway League has made it clear that all current restrictions will stay in place through April 30, despite NYC letting their vaccine mandate expire on March 7th. An update on Broadway theatre guidance should be provided on or around April 1.


I guess this means we should expect mask and vaccine mandates inside theatres for the long haul."

Source for this April 1 update?"

Playbill.com

uncageg said: "ABC News said that Broadway will continue its requirements through March and will reevaluate at the beginning of April. They didn't, however, say that this came from The League."

From whom else could it come? David Merrick speaking from the grave?

EDSOSLO858 said: "The Broadway League has made it clear that all current restrictions will stay in place through April 30, despite NYC letting their vaccine mandate expire on March 7th. An update on Broadway theatre guidance should be provided on or around April 1.


I guess this means we should expect mask and vaccine mandates inside theatres for the long haul."

It likely means the opposite. I expect mask mandates to be lifted in May, with vaccines continuing through the rest of 2022. Concert venues, sporting events, and clubs all operate maskless with no major breakouts attributed to them.

Folks can choose to keep wearing masks for as long as they need. But going against CDC recommendations and alienating potential audiences by forcing masks is not a lucrative move.

Fosse76 said: "I expect the Broadway League to eliminate the universal requirement, but allow each show to decided for itself."

I agree individual shows will adopt policies that fulfill their own assessment of their audience just as other businesses will. (I walked by a store in my neighborhood this afternoon with a sign on the door saying: "FYI, we will STILL require that you have a mask on to enter." My only nitpick with what you wrote is the word "allow." A producer does not need the League's permission to require masks or vaccines, any more than they do to, e.g., prohibit drinks at the seats.

Jordan Catalano said: "Well. Here we are. Covid restrictions are over in the city. This is going to be a very strange period of adjustment for so many of us."

You and I are keeping the masks, Jordy. I’m sure others will, too.

Some restrictions might fall back into place every autumn / winter if future surges lead to a concerning rise in hospitalizations. But then again, we don’t know anything yet.

Updated On: 3/7/22 at 12:28 AM