Theatre capacity limits to finally return to 100 percent on October 25
Proof of double vaccination will allow masked visitors access to potential full houses for movies, theatre, concerts, and more
Photo by Carmen Allarid
THEATRE AND CONCERT venues are finally going to open up to 100 percent capacity on October 25, the BC health authorities announced today.
A provincial health order has held capacity limits to 50 percent for inside organized events and gatherings.
The announcement coincides with the fact that on October 24, full vaccination for those 12 and up, and presentation of a BC Vaccine Card to prove it, will be required to access larger events. Indoor mask requirements remain in effect.
The new easing of limits applies to indoor concerts, theatre, movie theatres, dance, and symphony events, as well as to large indoor sporting events, weddings, and other gatherings. The opening-up will not apply to places where there are regional health orders in place, such as the ones in place now in areas of Northern, Interior, and Fraser Health where infections are still too high.
“We’ll be monitoring that carefully and watching to see if we can take away additional restrictions, depending on how things evolve over the next few weeks,” provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said today. “We need to remember that the vaccine helps us get back to being able to do things in settings where we can mitigate the risks….For people whose immune systems are compromised, this may not be the time to go out to a theatre. But we have not been seeing large outbreaks in those settings, where it’s controlled, where people are actually checking vaccine status, and where people are wearing masks and staying seated, it’s not taking off in the way that we have seen in the past.”
People who run arts venues have been grappling with the uncertainty of the past months—with the threat of financial losses of shutting down with no notice; of the risks of planning any kind of programming; and of the implications for staff.
On November 19 last year, the province released a public health order saying event gatherings for under 50 were banned, grouping performing-arts theatres and cinemas along with religious services, banquets, strip-club dancing, and fashion shows. But, controversially, the public health order said restaurants, bars, and other workplaces could stay open under safety protocols. Art galleries and museums also escaped full shutdowns.
Then a BC Restart plan was announced in May of this year, with a hope that theatres and venues could reopen completely by September 7. That goal, which would have met the launch of performing arts seasons, was not made due to signs of a fourth wave of infections. But that day did see the launch of access to the vaccine card, which has allowed the steps toward 100-percent capacity.
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