Biden Draws Line on 'Shutdown', Broadway Also Says "No Closure Plans"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] "There will be no shutdown again unless a COVID-19 infection occurs in every show."

As the new COVID-19 variant Omicron rapidly spreads, New York's Broadway theater district, entering the year-end peak season, has also drawn a line against shutdown plans. This aligns with the statements of U.S. President Joe Biden and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who shook their heads at the need for strong measures, saying "This is different from March 2020."

According to local media such as The New York Times (NYT) and CNBC, Charlotte St. Martins, chairperson of the Broadway League (BL), an association of producers and theater owners, said on the 21st (local time), "Currently, there are no plans to close Broadway." She expressed concern, saying, "There will never be an industry shutdown again unless COVID-19 infections occur in every show," and "Shutdowns are not good for the industry itself."

Previously, some performances on New York Broadway, including The Lion King, Dear Evan Hansen, and Hamilton, have been canceled through Christmas. According to the Broadway League, ticket sales last week were $22.5 million, a 26% decrease compared to the previous week ($30.5 million). This period before Christmas is typically considered a representative peak season for Broadway. Sales one week before Christmas in 2019 were $40.1 million.

Audience attendance for Broadway performances last week was also clearly down at 184,227 compared to 240,602 the previous week. The NYT reported, "One-third of all shows canceled performances last weekend," and "Many shows, including The Lion King and Dear Evan Hansen, have postponed performances until after Christmas."

On this day, 21 shows will be performed on Broadway as usual. Chairperson St. Martins said, "We are responding with strong protocols in theaters (against COVID-19)" and mentioned that they are reviewing whether there are additional updates needed due to the spread of Omicron. If a cast member or staff tests positive for COVID-19, an understudy takes their place. CNBC reported that among musicals in New York, 'Jagged Little Pill' is the only one that announced a production halt amid the expanding Omicron spread.

Mayor de Blasio also mentioned in a press conference on the same day that there will be no more shutdowns in a similar context. He emphasized, "We have experienced shutdowns. It was devastating," and "We cannot go through that again." President Biden also stated on the same day, "This is not March 2020," indicating that unlike some European countries strengthening border controls, the U.S. will not enter strong measures such as lockdowns.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.