UPDATE: Oscars nominees and guests have to be vaccinated, but presenters and performers don't
Nominees and guests of the 94th Academy Awards will also need to present two negative tests
Updated [2/18]: The Academy has officially unveiled its COVID-19 policy for the Oscars and it requires nominees and guests to provide proof of vaccination plus two negative PCR test results. However, the ceremony’s performers and presenters will only undergo “rigorous testing.”
According to the Times, those seated closer to the stage will not be required to wear masks, but the seating will be spread further apart. Those in the mezzanine section, however, will be required to mask up. Additionally, the total number of invitees is around 2,500, which is 75% capacity for the Dolby Theatre.
Following last year’s pared down Oscars ceremony, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is planning to come back with a bang (and possibly as a superspreader event). It’s been reported by The Hollywood Reporter and Variety that, this year, the ceremony will not require in-person attendees to show proof of vaccination. Instead, Oscars attendees will have to present a negative PCR test or a negative rapid antigen test just before the biggest night in Hollywood.
It makes sense why The Academy might do this; many celebrities would probably have to explain why they were barred for attending the event and that probably would be uncomfortable—for them. It’d be a Met Gala/Nicki Minaj Ballgate thing all over again.
According to THR, The Academy’s internal policy which requires all of its employees to be vaccinated, but the organization declined to comment at all. While the forthcoming ceremony’s protocol technically adheres to the latest minimum requirements from the Los Angeles Department of Health, the emphasis should be on minimum. So far, no other details concerning the usage of masks or other precautions have been released.
This is a total breakaway from the stated protocols of other in-person award ceremonies being held this year. The upcoming SAG and Critics Choice Awards ceremonies, for examples, require proof of vaccination and a negative PCR test result for entry.
“We will be 100 percent vaccinated and require a negative PCR test within 48 hours of the event. I can’t invite people to a show where they’re not going to feel safe,” Joey Berlin, COO of the Critics Choice Association tells THR.
Though the Oscars were held at Union Station last year as a move to mitigate the COVID spread, the 2022 ceremony will be held at the Dolby Theatre (which seats about 3,400 people) on March 27.
Updated [2/11]: Deadline reports that the 94th annual Academy Awards ceremony probably won’t have a mask mandate either. After asking the Los Angeles County Public Health Department about the upcoming event, the LDPH responded in a statement, “As current rates of community transmission continue to decrease, it is likely that the threshold for Indoor Mega Events will soon increase to 1,000 attendees. Public Health will work with the Oscars on their COVID protocols in-line with what is required for television productions.”
Updated [2/18]: The Academy has officially unveiled its COVID-19 policy for the Oscars, which requires nominees and guests to provide proof of vaccination plus two negative PCR test results, while performers and presenters will only undergo “rigorous testing.” According to the Times, those seated closer to the stage will not be required to wear masks but will be spread further apart, and those in the mezzanine will be required to mask up. Additionally, the total number of invitees comes out to around 2,500, which is 75 percent capacity for the Dolby Theatre.