Despite Covid spikes across the country and a disappointingly slow vaccine release, Dr. Anthony S. Fauci reiterated his belief at the weekend that live theater venues could reopen during the fall of 2021.
Participating in a virtual conference held Saturday by the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, Fauci said that, depending on the vaccine implantation, the reopening of live venues “will occur sometime in the fall of 2021. ”
From “early to mid-autumn,” said the infectious disease specialist, “you can make people feel safe on stage, just like people in the audience. “
Fauci’s comments were consistent with statements he made earlier last month, when he told NBC that the launch of a vaccine this spring and early summer could allow Broadway to reopen its stages in late summer or early summer. autumn.
As he noted in December, however, the possible reopens will depend on widespread vaccines. He said on Saturday that an effective level of collective immunity would mean that 70% to 85% of the population would have received vaccines. Fauci cautioned, however, that the public can expect to continue wearing masks in the immediate future, and that locals may consider requiring members of the public to show evidence of negative Covid test results.
He also encouraged site owners to examine ventilation systems and make appropriate improvements in airflow.