NEW YORK (1010 WINS) – New York City will create vaccination sites for the Broadway and off-Broadway communities as the city aims for a return of productions in the fall, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday.
Over the next four weeks, the city will set up dedicated vaccination sites specifically for the theater community and theater industry.
The sites will be staffed by workers from the industry and the sites will be "right in the heart of the Theater District," de Blasio said.
There will be mobile testing units to serve off-Broadway theaters, as well as pop-up COVID-19 testing sites at and near theaters.
NYC Mayor
"It's time to raise the curtain and bring Broadway back," de Blasio said. "We're working with the Broadway community now to develop the plans to make the reopening go smoothly."
The city is also working on a crowd management plan and will be actively engaged in helping theaters manage crowds before and after shows.
De Blasio said the city still needs guidance from the state for theater workers when it comes to things like mask usage, as well as proof of vaccination and negative test results.
He said the guidance is necessary now "to help ensure that everyone can work and that crowds can come back in the fall."
"There's a long lead time for Broadway shows to come back, and this is why it's so important to be talking about this today in March, looking ahead to September," de Blasio said.
The mayor said that city's theater industry has a $15 billion impact on the economy, supports 100,000 jobs and provides "the hope that comes with live performance."
