New York to Allow Venues to Reopen with Limited Audiences
Photo by Carson Church
New York State is easing COVID restrictions on live performances. In a press conference on Wednesday, March 3, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that live performances can resume starting on Apr. 2.
In the Albany presser, Cuomo stated that venues can reopen in early April at just 33 percent capacity, with a cap of 100 people indoors and 200 people outdoors. The governor also announced that there would be masking and social distancing requirements. Furthermore, if a venue is able to test all attendees, the attendance limits can increase to 150 people indoors and 500 people outdoors.
According to a New York Times report, “a handful of venues immediately said they would begin holding live performances, which, with a handful of limited exceptions, have not taken place in New York since Broadway shut down last March 12.”
Meanwhile, the report also noted that for many smaller venues, opening at such a limited capacity may not be a viable financial option.
