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The Metropolitan Opera in New York City will require all audience and staff members have a COVID-19 booster shot starting on January 17.
The world-renowned opera revealed the news in an email sent on Wednesday. "With the news of the rapid spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, it is clear that we must now take additional steps to protect our community," said the email.
The Met also updated its website to reflect the new mandate. The opera house clarified that those not yet eligible for a booster shot "will be able to continue to enter provided they are two weeks past their second dose in a two-dose vaccine series or two weeks after receiving a single-dose vaccine." It also detailed a grace period given for guests to schedule and receive their booster once they become eligible. Masks continue to be mandatory for all guests and employees.
Although booster shots have not yet been approved for children, fully vaccinated kids ages 5 to 11 will continue to be allowed into the Met two weeks after their second vaccine dosage. Those who are not vaccinated but are able to provide negative test results will not be able to enter the opera. Proof of vaccination is also required, and can be provided through "the CLEAR app (if available to you), the Excelsior Pass (for New York State residents), the NYC COVID Safe app (for New York City residents), an EU Digital COVID Certificate, or an original CDC or internationally recognized physical vaccination record or photograph of it."
During days when performances are scheduled, around 3,000 employees work at the Met. The opera has also drawn approximately 160,000 guests from its first 59 performances this season. The average capacity of the Met has been around 73 percent since it reopened in September 2020.
This news comes after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio issued a mandate requiring 184,000 businesses in the city to at least partially vaccinate their employees by December 27. It is unknown whether the Met was one of the companies directly affected by this mandate.
The Met was closed from March 2020 until September because of the pandemic, canceling 276 performances plus an international tour.
"Our population is far larger than any other not-for-profit performing arts organization in the country, which is why we have to be in the vanguard of health and safety," Met general manager Peter Gelb said in a statement.
The company mandated vaccinations for employees last summer and has required proof of vaccination for the audience since the season began.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
