The New York Metropolitan Opera will only let in vaccinated viewers in the coming season. Both the audience and the performing artists must show full vaccination protection, as the house announced amid the debate on mandatory vaccination in the United States. “The Met will be a fully vaccinated house,” the Met explained in an email to its visitors.
–
Children under the age of twelve – who are currently not allowed to be vaccinated – are not allowed to enter the house, even if the adults accompanying them are vaccinated. The Met has more than 3,000 employees, making it the largest performing arts organization in the United States. It has been closed since the pandemic began in March 2020. The management hopes to be able to reopen at the end of September.
–
During the closing time, the ventilation was renewed, automatic doors were installed and the sanitary areas were equipped with devices that do not have to be touched, it is said in the message further. With these measures and the vaccination certificates of the audience, it is believed that full utilization of the opera house can be made possible. Wearing masks will be voluntary.
Similar considerations in Germany
In view of the rising corona numbers due to the Delta variant and a faltering vaccination campaign, a debate has arisen in the USA about compulsory vaccination. The city of New York and the state of California announced that public sector workers will either have to get vaccinated or take weekly corona tests. The US Department of Veterans Affairs was the first federal agency to require health workers to be vaccinated.
–
Events are also being discussed in Germany for which access only with a negative corona test would no longer be sufficient. The Executive President of the Federal Association of the Concert and Event Industry, Jens Michow, said the “world”, there is only this way in the area of major events from the end of September at the latest.
Those who refuse to be vaccinated cannot expect the rest of the population to suffer, said Michow. “If the risk of infection is too great for those who have been tested, events must only be allowed for those who have been vaccinated and those who have recovered. If events can be held under these conditions without distance rules, our house rules allow only these people access. “
–
