New York To Drop Indoor Mask Mandate This Week

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 8:21pm

NY Times Article

I wonder what this will do for Broadway, moving forward…

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 8:28pm

Broadway will keep the masks indefinitely. Everyone's health and safety has been of the utmost importance throughout the reopening process this season. Also, school mask mandates are continuing in NYS (as of right now), even as 5-17 year olds can continue attending shows. Kids' vaccination rates are incredibly low at the moment.

Optimistically, COVID restrictions in the theatre will be dropped by the end of the 2022-23 season. 

Updated On: 2/8/22 at 08:28 PM

[ElephantLoveMedley]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 8:43pm

I sure hope we lose the mask mandate on Broadway sooner than later. This can't go on forever.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 9:01pm

Broadway will keep the masks indefinitely.

Yeah, no. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 9:19pm

Broadway will keep the masks indefinitely.

 

Definitely not. It really is unbearable to wear a mask in the summer heat. Don't see it lasting through the summer.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 9:21pm

This quote -

“…ending a requirement that businesses ask customers for proof of full vaccination or require mask wearing at all times”

got me wondering how long the vaccine check will last, also. 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 9:21pm

ACL2006 said: "Broadway will keep the masks indefinitely.



Definitely not. It really is unbearable to wear a mask in the summer heat. Don't see it lasting through the summer."

Audiences had to do it for Bruce and Pass Over. Just saying.

[alex814]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 9:23pm

ACL2006 said: "Broadway will keep the masks indefinitely.



Definitely not. It really is unbearable to wear a mask in the summer heat. Don't see it lasting through the summer."

The theaters are air conditioned. They don’t have to wear the masks outside in the sun if they don’t want to.

[Theater3232]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 9:44pm

I don't care if someone next to me has a booster, but I do care if they're coughing/hacking/sneezing without a mask.  Even before Covid, I got sick many times from thoughtless patrons who'd come to the theater sick.  Masks should remain. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 10:04pm

EDSOSLO858 said:

"Optimistically, COVID restrictions in the theatre will be dropped by the end of the 2022-23 season."

Let's not be ridiculous, okay? They will be gone well before this summer.  Some people will of course choose to wear them for the rest of their lives ---- but the mandate is coming to an end.

 

Updated On: 2/8/22 at 10:04 PM

[JSquared2]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 10:07pm

Theater3232 said: "I don't care if someone next to me has a booster, but I do care if they're coughing/hacking/sneezing without a mask. Even before Covid, I got sick many times from thoughtless patrons who'd come to the theater sick. Masks should remain."

Then continue to wear your mask for the rest of your life, and you'll have no problems with the occasional "cougher" sitting next to you.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 10:14pm

ElephantLoveMedley said: "I sure hope we lose the mask mandate on Broadway sooner than later. This can't go on forever."

Agreed - a simple piece of layered cotton is just simply unbearable to wear while sitting still for 2.5 hours. I just can’t stand it. How can we keep living like this!!!! 

[MemorableUserName]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 10:14pm

In case anyone can't get past the paywall, this seems like the most relevant passage for Broadway:

"It is unclear if some localities with their own strict mask and vaccination rules might follow Ms. Hochul’s lead and potentially lift their restrictions, too.

In New York City, for example, proof of vaccination is required to dine indoors, attend events at arenas, work out at gyms and go to the movies. That requirement has been in place through a program known as “Key to NYC,” which was implemented through an executive order from the mayor and must be renewed every five days. City officials said Tuesday that the order was being renewed."

Updated On: 2/8/22 at 10:14 PM

[Islander_fan]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 10:23pm

It should be noted that The Broadway League extended the current Covid policy till April 30th. My guess, things are going to stay the way they are at least until then. 

[smidge2]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 10:36pm

I fully understand and support anyone who wants to continue wearing a mask. But in order get the tourists back and increase sales, mask requirements will have to disappear.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 10:54pm

Yup. So sick of this sh*t. It's been two years.

Love, 

A triple vaxxed American 

[stoptheworld38]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 11:21pm

Considering Broadway a) already announced masks being required through the end of April, if I remember correctly, and b) they have been required since reopening, including when many parts of the state (outside of NYC) did not have mandate, I highly doubt it will make any difference. I'm very much hoping it'll be gone by summer though.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 11:23pm

Just to clarify, my statement wondering what this would mean for Broadway didn’t mean starting this week or next month but moving forward, in general. 

[smidge2]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 11:27pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Just to clarify, my statement wondering what this would mean for Broadway didn’t mean starting this week or next month but moving forward, in general."

Same.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 11:40pm

I’m going to assume that by summer mask and vaccine requirements will be history. I’m thinking back to Provincetown early last June before Delta. I arrived the day all mask requirements were dropped and there were no vaccine requirements to enter any place. It was a surreal wonderful window last summer. Shortly after I left the Delta variant emerged and that’s when the stringent mask and vax requirements started. 
 

I think this summer will be an attempt to move forward with no masks and vaccines no longer being checked. It seems like folks have done all they can do with being triple vaxxed. Those who choose to continue to wear masks are welcome to and I support and respect their decisions. I will probably always wear a mask during travel on planes, trains, buses at this point. Naomi Campbell has been doing it since the 90s and she never gets sick. 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 11:42pm

So funny you mentioned Naomi Campbell. I’ve been obsessed by her OCD for years and have been pointing to it all throughout the pandemic. 
 

 

[DearTheodosia]

Posted: 2/8/22 at 11:47pm

Sutton Ross said: "Yup. So sick of this sh*t. It's been two years.

Love,

A triple vaxxed American"

We're all sick of this ****. But there are still way too many people dying and it's still too much of a strain on our hospitals to just pretend it's all over.

 

[saxpower]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 12:21am

I think another thing may be going on with the NY State mandate and mandates in other states (and jurisdictions) as well.   People are getting tired of all this- I'm not saying whether that's right or wrong, the fact is they are.   If court challenges start popping up  there is a risk of adverse decisions which may make it hard to re-instate mandates if things get bad again.   My state (Delaware) had dropped the mask mandate last summer, brought it back in January for Omicron, and is dropping it Friday.  A lot of other states seem to be moving towards dropping the mandates.  I wonder if there are "behind the scenes" threats of legal actions to lift the mandates.  It may be better to lift them voluntarily by Court Order. 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 12:23am

I think the argument is that’s it’s CLOSE to over. And even triple vaxxed, mask wearing liberals like myself are planning to basically go back to a relatively normal life sometime this spring/summer. It will be merely an endemic, and just another virus by that point, like the flu. Personally, I’m just…done, but will keep up the rituals until March or so.

[OffOnBwayHi]

Posted: 2/9/22 at 12:29am

This is the right move and good for business! I live in NYC but am from the south. No masks mandates, no vaxx mandates, and folks ain’t dropping like flies there. It’s time to move on.

Once the vaxx mandates stop being renewed (should happen at the same time tbh) I have a hunch that we’ll see a significant upkeep in theater attendance. Watch. And once people see folks are ok, people will trust again, and I suspect pretty quickly.

This is unpopular, but instead of catering to those who are fearful, it’s time to listen to those who are not. I believe they are secretly the majority, but because this has become such a point of social contention, they play along. We’re going to experience a very very quick shift. I’m excited to see this finally happen! Way overdue imho.