Broadway extends masking policy to June 30

The masks don't seem to be coming off any time soon on Broadway.

The Broadway League announced over the weekend that theater owners and operators will continue requiring theatergoers to wear face masks through at least June 30. Extending the masking policy into July will be considered next month, the League also stated. Most theaters stopped checking proof of vaccination status on May 1.

“As always, the safety and security of our cast, crew, and audience has been our top priority,” Broadway League President Charlotte St. Martin said in a statement Friday. “By maintaining our audience masking requirement through at least the month of June, we intend to continue that track record of safety for all, despite the Omicron subvariants.”

The decision comes after an uptick in COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, which resulted in New York City health officials raising the coronavirus alert level to “high.” Last week, Mayor Eric Adams recommended that all New Yorkers wear masks in indoor settings.

This is the second time in two months that the mask-wearing policy has been extended. Last month, the League announced that masks would be required through May 30. In recent weeks, several shows have continued to deal with COVID-19 cases among cast members, such as the Bob Dylan musical "Girl From the North Country."