Oscars mandates Covid vaccine nominees and guests but not for performers and presenters

This year’s Academy Awards has mandate Covid vaccination for all the nominees and guests but not for performers and presenters at the award ceremony, confirmed Variety.

First reported by New York Times, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences determined on Thursday that all nominees and invited guests must show proof of vaccination and test negative at least twice via PCR testing. Those performing and presenting at the awards ceremony, on the other hand, will not need to show proof of vaccination, but will be tested rigorously.

A total of 2,500 nominees and guests have been invited to attend the 94th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre, which has a capacity of over 3,300 people. The mask mandates too will operate differently at different sections of the venue.

According to the Times, guests and nominees seated in the orchestra and parterre sections of the theatre will not be required to wear face masks. However, for those seated in the tightly drawn mezzanine wearing a mask may come across as a necessity.

Coachella also has recently announced that the upcoming festival in April won't require proof of Covid vaccination or testing. Meanwhile, Los Angeles is expected to lift its indoor masking mandate in late March but whether the rule will kick into action before or after the March 27 event, remains to be seen.