The Public Theater To Now Require Negative Test Along With Vaccination

The last time I got a test at CityMD it took 2 hours to wait for the test and 5 days to get the results back.

I understand it, but these COVID tests aren't free. So this is now an added cost to the ticket.

I get it but that does not seem to be any notice at all? Do they have any show running at all currently? For example, for our upcoming trip, we were going to get Sandra Bernhard’s residency show at Joe’s Pub but decided against it. We did pre-purchase 7 other shows at various other theatres if they all decide to implement this last minute and we still decide to come even taking the chance on cancellations (between Christmas/New Year’s) trying to get tested 24 hrs will prove to be a challenge.

Sutton Ross said: "People won't be willing to do this unless it's seriously worth it. So, unless they have a Hamilton on their hands currently, most people won't care to stand in a line for hours on end when they are vaccinated."

Hamilton is the only show I would do this for.

I honestly can't think of any show or live experience I would do this for - extra time, stress, money... I get they're trying to be safe, but I think this is just ultimately going to result in a lot of people deciding not to go to shows at The Public.

I think with the lack of testing available without looking at least 4 to 6 days out and then hoping the results will come back is becoming pretty much slim to nothing.

Ran into it this week with my niece leaving for the UK. No one could guarantee the results back in 24-48 hours.

She ended up taking the test at JFK and want to say it was around $250.00 i believe. I could be off on the exact amount but it was close to this.

This seems to be a prime example of great intention, terrible execution.

100%

ACL2006 said: "I understand it, but these COVID tests aren't free. So this is now an added cost to the ticket."

Covid tests are free all over the city. Recently used the Times Square testing to fly to Europe. Free and has results in 30 minutes for antigen and 24 hours for PCR. All delivered to my phone. Easy.

I live in NJ and wanted to get tested before an event today as a precaution (I am boosted, I have no symptoms and to my knowledge no exposure). I looked Thursday for appointments at several different Walgreens AND CVS pharmacies and they had 0 available for PCR or a rapid test until Monday. So, I booked Monday anyway but… really not easy to get outside of NYC; this has been the case for a few weeks now - impossible to get day of appointments.

Genuine question (I moved out of NYC during quarantine so haven't been as "up" on the city's COVID rules as I used to be). How does planning ahead affect the testing situation? ie, if you know you've got a show January 2, will booking a testing appointment for the 1 still result in the massive lines? I've - so far still - got a party on NYE which will require a negative test, but so far most of the places I'm looking at aren't booking that far in advance yet.

As for here in central Connecticut, I'm chalking the testing backlog up to people wanting to get tested before Christmas. There seems to be a sharp increase in appointment availability after the 25.

Agree that this requirement is most definitely not sustainable on Broadway (and maybe not anywhere). It requires a degree of advance planning that is extraordinarily inconvenient for the majority of patrons. What happens if / when test results are delayed & audience members who have paid good money suddenly find themselves denied admittance? Or as others have mentioned, audience members are unable to land an appointment for a test within 24 hours of their performance?

Updated On: 12/18/21 at 09:23 PM

As a sign of how bad things are with testing, the testing tent outside my Rite Aid was lined up around the block and it was raining today. This isn't feasible until tests are more readily available.