It has been reported that most but not all attendees at this year’s Academy Awards will be required to provide confirmation of COVID-19 vaccinations.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences resolved on Thursday that all candidates and invited guests must produce proof of vaccination and test negative at least twice via PCR testing, as first reported by the New York Times. Those performing and presenting at the awards ceremony, on the other hand, will not be required to produce proof of vaccination, but will be thoroughly examined.
This is a clarification of the Academy’s COVID-19 policy, as it was previously announced on Feb. 9 that registrants would not be required to produce proof of vaccination. According to a source close to the matter, the decision not to seek proof of vaccination for presenters and performers is in accordance with the COVID-19 return-to-work agreement reached between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and unions. The agreement allows production companies to impose COVID-19 vaccines for Zone A — the production’s cast and crew who work most closely with the performers — but it is not a requirement.
The Dolby Theater, which seats over 3,300 people, will host 2,500 nominees and guests for this year’s Oscars event. Guests and nominees seated in the orchestra and parterre areas of the auditorium will not be forced to wear face masks, according to the Times. Those sat on the mezzanine, on the other hand, may be required to wear masks because of their closer proximity.
As the number of COVID-19 cases in the Los Angeles area decreases, more prominent companies and events are easing their COVID-19 policy as well. Disney theme parks no longer need fully vaccinated customers to wear masks as of this week. On Tuesday, Coachella declared that no confirmation of COVID-19 immunization or testing will be required to attend the 2019 April festival. Meanwhile, Los Angeles’ indoor masking restriction is anticipated to be lifted in late March, but it is unclear if this would be before or after the March 27 event.