Sha’Carri Richardson asks followers a query on Twitter: “Do you miss me?”

Roommate, Sha’Carri Richardson was the name on everyone’s lips earlier this month as she quickly moved from preparing for the Tokyo Olympics to being disqualified for marijuana use. A few weeks later, Sha’Carri Richardson posted on social media asking fans how they were holding up in the world of athletics without their presence.

With the Tokyo Olympics officially ending its first week, Team USA has managed to claim multiple wins and gold medals – but the currently disqualified Sha’Carri Richardson wants a simple question from her fans.

Sha’Carri posted the following tweet on Twitter, “Do you miss me yet?” Despite the ladies currently representing their countries enjoying their Olympic moments, Sha’Carri apparently hinted that the Tokyo Olympics would be better if she competed in track and field competitions there.

While not at the Olympics, she has kept herself occupied, mostly by starring in the recent “Beats By Dre” commercial, featuring brand new music by none other than Kanye West.

Shortly before, she was offered a whopping $ 250,000 to become the new spokesperson for a vaping company – an offer she has not yet publicly accepted.

As previously reported, Sha’Carri Richardson made headlines across the country when she was officially disqualified from participating in Olympic competitions in Tokyo after testing positive for marijuana banned from Olympic competitions.

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Cryptocurrency is choosing up velocity to pay for trip getaways

Alexander Spatari | Moment | Getty Images

You will likely have to use cryptocurrency to cash out the ransomware hacker who frozen your laptop, but where else could you put all of your bitcoins, ethereum and other digital coins in for actual use?

Tesla may still be unsure whether Bitcoin will be accepted again for its electric vehicles, but cryptocurrency holders can now grapple with other avenues as travel companies warm up to the idea.

Airfare website Cheapair.com, Latvian airline Air Baltic and Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic have long accepted Bitcoin, and Berlin-based tour and activity booking site GetYourGuide started accepting Dogecoin in June as part of its U.S. expansion, that are processed via BitPay

Cryptocurrency transactions are becoming “really important for travel,” and his company is considering accepting other coins in the future, said Johannes Reck, CEO and co-founder of GetYourGuide.

“People want to get their crypto back into the system [and] Travel is one of the biggest categories out there, ”he added. “We’re bringing Dogecoin into the real world now; You can apply it and actually have a real, kinetic experience. “

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Expanding US Reach, Travel Website Begins Accepting Dogecoin

Cryptocurrency also appeals to younger generations of travelers, say industry players.

Alex Simon, co-founder and CEO of the upcoming travel app Elude, said next-generation vacationers are “looking for modern ways to plan and book trips.”

“The ability to buy your plane ticket or hotel using Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies is inevitable,” he added. “Although the travel industry is antiquated, the new generation of travelers, Gen Z and Gen Alpha, will require new forms of payment and alternative ways to buy travel.” (It is widely believed that Gen Alpha is made up of those born after 2010, often the children of millennials.)

Other tourism players currently engaged in crypto transactions include Nevada’s new Resorts World Las Vegas hotel, which it accepts for select payments through a partnership with UK crypto exchange firm Gemini, and the Bobby Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, where guests stay and Can book events with Dogecoin and other cryptocurrencies via BitPay.

For its part, the online travel agency giant Expedia stopped accepting Bitcoin directly in 2018, but since 2020 700,000 hotels and accommodations of the Expedia group have been available via the crypto-friendly booking platform Travala.com.

Travala.com also works with Tripadvisor company Viator to offer more than 400,000 bookable activities as well as food delivery company Zomato.

At the self-described “blockchain-based” Travala.com, which accepts payments in its own native AVA altcoin as well as 50 other cryptocurrencies, 70% of all bookings are now made via digital coins, according to CEO Juan Otero. The company said it is currently seeing more than $ 1 million a week in business.

“These are massive partnerships with some of the largest online travel brands in the world, all of whom use crypto,” Otero said. “In total, Travala.com offers over 3 million travel products, which not only makes us the biggest crypto-friendly ones [online travel agency]but one of the greatest overall. “

Is B&B now “bed-and-blockchain”?

Matthew Leete | Photo disc | Getty Images

The cryptocurrency model is also starting to change the travel industry itself. Otero said it was the core of Dtravel, which he described as a new decentralized home sharing network based on the blockchain model that Travala.com launched in June.

“There is not a single board of directors who makes all the decisions,” he said. “Instead, this new home-sharing network is run entirely by its community through its ‘Decentralized Autonomous Organization’, which any host or guest can participate in.”

Otero said the blockchain technology on which Dtravel is built enables “smart contracts” between hosts and guests. The platform revolves around TRVL, its native crypto token.

The token is made available to all registered hosts and every guest can buy it; those who have TRVL are voting members of the Dtravel DAO. (More than $ 35 million in TRVL awards were reserved for the first 100,000 hosts to register with Dtravel, Otero said. On July 21, Dtravel announced that it had joined more than 200,000 properties in more than 2,000 cities. The platform aims to list more than 1 million rentals in the first year.)

There is certainly no isolated island that all crypto enthusiasts travel to.

Juan Otero

CEO of Travala.com

“Hosts can propose changes – for example fee structure, organizational policy, use of shared funds – and vote so that it is possible [them] control the fate of the Dtravel platform to meet its evolving needs, “he said.

In a world of an estimated 100 million cryptocurrency holders, where consumers spent more than $ 1 billion on crypto in the first half of 2021 alone, everything makes sense, according to Otero. An April 1st Travala.com poll of 1,000 Americans found that 71% of respondents plan to spend more on travel than they did before Covid, and a surprising quarter say they will pay for some of that with crypto.

Still, for many, crypto trading seems to be the responsibility of a particular subset of the population – say, the Elon Musks of the world. But in general, people who use digital coins on Travala.com book everything from cheap travel at online travel agents to its luxury concierge branded products, Otero said, and their preferred travel destinations are not much different from those who pay traditionally Cash or credit.

“There is certainly no isolated island that all crypto enthusiasts travel to,” he added, although he noted that crypto uptake in Travala.com’s second and third most popular destinations was above the global average. Turkey and United Arab Emirates. (The US is the # 1 seller of the platform.)

“As more people own cryptocurrencies and more companies accept them for real things, travel is of course a desirable experience to use crypto,” he said.

Of course, Bitcoin and competing coins can fluctuate greatly in value; Because of this, travel providers tend not to rely on the volatile tokens, but have third-party vendors convert them to fiat values ​​at the time of purchase, says Otero.

Consumers also reserve their options. “We generally see more credit card payments for travel when crypto prices are down than when they are sky high,” Otero said.

Vice President Kamala Harris to go to Vietnam and Singapore amid tensions with China

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris waves as she boards Air Force Two June 14, 2021 in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

Alex Wong | Getty Images

Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Singapore and Vietnam next month to strengthen the U.S.’s relationship and economic ties with the Indo-Pacific region, the White House said in a statement on Friday. 

Harris will be the first U.S. vice president to visit Vietnam, and the highest-ranking official from the Biden administration to visit the Indo-Pacific, and Asia overall. Indo-Pacific refers to the region that lies between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, bordered by Japan, India and Australia.

The visit comes as the administration works to fortify regional ties with Southeast Asian nations, while pushing back on China’s influence in the region and globally. 

“President [Joe] Biden and Vice President Harris have made it a top priority to rebuild our global partnerships and keep our nation secure, and this upcoming visit continues that work — deepening our engagement in Southeast Asia,” Symone Sanders, senior advisor and chief spokesperson for Harris, said in the White House statement.

The White House did not provide details on the dates of the trip. It will also serve as Harris’ second international trip in office after she visited Guatemala and Mexico in June as part of her diplomatic efforts to address the root causes of migration to the U.S. 

Harris will meet with the leaders of Singapore and Vietnam to discuss regional security, climate change and the coronavirus pandemic, according to the White House. She will also discuss joint efforts with the leaders to “promote a rules-based international order.”

The announcement also comes just days after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s own trip to Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam, which focused on offering support to Southeast Asia nations as territorial rifts with China unfold. 

The vice president’s visit affirms the strength of the relationship between the U.S. and Singapore, according to a statement released on Friday by the press secretary to Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, the Business Times reported. 

Harris will meet with Singapore leaders to discuss ways to cooperate in areas such as defense, digital trade and cyber security, according to the Business Times. 

“I am delighted to welcome Vice-President Harris on her first official visit to Singapore,” the statement said, according to Business Times. “I look forward to our discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation and working together on global challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change.”

Scarlett Johansson’s agent slams Disney for lawsuit response

Scarlett Johansson attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 09, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California.

David Crotty | Patrick McMullan | Getty Images

“Black Widow” star Scarlett Johansson’s powerhouse agent on Friday slammed Walt Disney for accusing the actor of “callous disregard” for the dangers of Covid-19 to the moviegoing public.

Bryan Lourd, who is co-chair of talent agency giant CAA, also suggested Disney was not playing fair by publicly revealing Johansson’s $20 million salary for the Marvel Entertainment movie. That figure had not previously been shared publicly.

Lourd said Disney’s response to Johansson’s lawsuit was “an attempt to make her appear to be someone they and I know she isn’t.”

Disney’s comment came hours after the “Black Widow” star filed a lawsuit against the company Thursday, claiming it had breached her contract when it released the film on its streaming service Disney+ at the same time it debuted in theaters.

“There is no merit whatsoever to this filing,” Disney said. “The lawsuit is especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Johansson, like many Marvel veterans including Robert Downey Jr., negotiated to have a percentage of box-office receipts tacked on to her salary. This has become increasingly common with Marvel Cinematic Universe films because of their theatrical track record.

The Academy Award-nominated actress has starred as Natasha Romanoff in eight Marvel films, which have collectively grossed more than $10.5 billion in global box-office receipts in the last decade.

Only eight of Marvel’s 24 theatrical releases have grossed less than $700 million globally. And only three have secured less than $400 million. On average, these franchise films garner nearly $1 billion globally over the course of their theatrical runs.

So far, “Black Widow” has tallied $150 million during its first three weeks in theaters and a little more than $300 million globally. Its $80 million domestic opening weekend remains the highest opening figure of any film released after March 2020, when many Covid pandemic restrictions hit.

The streaming release of the film ate into box-office profits, though Disney reported “Black Widow” scored $60 million from sales on Disney+ during its opening weekend. The company has not shared additional information about the film’s digital performance. Entertainment experts have also blamed rampant piracy of the film for its steady drop in performance since the release.

While Disney’s decision to put “Black Widow” on Disney+ and in theaters on the same day and date was a strategic move based on pandemic pressures, it is projected to have cost Johansson more than $50 million, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.

Johansson’s lawsuit claims the actress tried to renegotiate with Disney after she discovered the film would not be released exclusively in theaters, but the studio did not respond.

Representatives from Disney did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.

CDC warns as contagious as chickenpox, might make folks sicker

The CDC warned House lawmakers that the delta variant sweeping across the country is as contagious as chickenpox, has a longer transmission window than the original Covid-19 strain and may make older people sicker, even if they’ve been fully vaccinated.

The warning on Thursday was made in a confidential document that was reviewed by CNBC and authenticated by the federal health agency.

Delta, now in at least 132 countries and already the dominant form of the disease in the United States, is more transmissible than the common cold, the 1918 Spanish flu, smallpox, Ebola, MERS and SARS, according to the document. Only measles appears to spread faster than the variant.

“The war has changed,” officials of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote.

Healthcare personnel work in a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) intensive care unit where they are dealing with a surge in cases of the Delta variant at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray, Utah, U.S., in this handout photo provided July 23, 2021.

Intermountain Health | Reuters

Health officials said federal and state leaders should communicate to the public the benefits of getting vaccinated, adding the Covid vaccine shots reduce the risk of severe disease and death “10-fold or greater” and reduce the risk of infection “3-fold.”

Vaccines prevent more than 90% of severe disease, but may be less effective at preventing infection, they said, making community spread among the vaccinated more likely. The document said 35,000 symptomatic infections are occurring per week among 162 million vaccinated Americans.

Separately, the CDC has said 5,914 fully vaccinated people have been hospitalized or have died with Covid infections as of July 19, the most recent data available. Breakthrough cases, which occur in the fully vaccinated, happen more frequently in gatherings of people and in groups at risk of primary vaccine failure, according to the document.

Health officials also said federal and state leaders should consider vaccine mandates, particularly for health-care workers, universal masking and other community mitigation strategies. President Joe Biden announced on Thursday his administration would require federal workers to prove their vaccination status or submit to a series of rigorous safety protocols.

The documents presented to lawmakers came two days after the CDC reversed course on its prior guidance and recommended fully vaccinated Americans who live in areas with high Covid infection rates resume wearing face masks indoors. The guidelines cover about two-thirds of the U.S. population, according to a CNBC analysis.

“My first thoughts in reading it was that everything is a little bit worse than I thought,” said Dr. Robert Wachter, chairman of the Department of Medicine at the University of California at San Francisco, who reviewed the document.

“This document and some of the other information says you’ve got to be open to the possibility that delta is worse in a number of ways and may upend some of our prior assumptions in ways that are meaningful,” he said.

Dr. Paul Offit, who advises the FDA on Covid vaccines, said Friday it is “profoundly” upsetting that the U.S. hasn’t gotten a critical portion of the population vaccinated, adding delta has “changed the game.” About half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated, according to CDC data.

“Yesterday, you had 90,000 cases and close to 400 deaths,” Offit said. “Those are same numbers you saw last summer. I mean, last summer, you had a fully susceptible population and you had no vaccine.”

He said the CDC documents highlight just how “frustrated” federal officials are, given that there are safe and effective vaccines.

“The war isn’t against the virus anymore. It’s also at some level a war against ourselves,” he said.

People infected with the delta variant carry up to 1,000 times more virus in their nasal passages than other strains, resulting in higher transmissibility, even among the vaccinated, according to federal health officials. The CDC noted that studies in Canada, Singapore and Scotland found higher odds of hospitalization, ICU admission, oxygen needs, pneumonia or death among people infected with the delta variant.

While the variant, which surfaced in India, continues to hit unvaccinated people the hardest, some vaccinated people could be carrying higher levels of the virus than previously understood and are potentially transmitting it to others, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Tuesday. She added the variant behaves “uniquely differently from past strains of the virus.”

“This pandemic continues to pose a serious threat to the health of all Americans,” Walensky told reporters on a call.

Rep. James E. Clyburn, D-S.C., chairman of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, said Walensky and White House chief medical advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci briefed the committee on the new data Thursday.

“I am deeply concerned about the rapidly increasing rates of coronavirus infections in states around the country that is being driven by the Delta variant,” Clyburn said in a statement, noting that Covid cases have increased by 145% in the last two weeks and hospitalizations and deaths are rising again, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates. “This sudden turn of events threatens to undermine the significant progress we have made this year to overcome the pandemic.”

–CNBC’s Rich Mendez, Robert Towey and Nate Rattner contributed to this report.

Download the full CDC presentation here.

Olympian Katie Ledecky shares what’s in her swim bag

We interviewed this celebrity because we think you will like her selections. Some of the products shown are from the celebrity’s own line of products or a brand they are paid for. E! has affiliate relationships, so we may receive a commission if you buy something through our links. Items are sold by the retailer, not by E !.

Olympic swimming sensation Katie Ledecky will add a few more gold medals to her collection during the Tokyo Olympics this summer. Aside from a rigorous training schedule, there are a few other things Katie counts on to get her ready for competition, like chocolate milk and BIC razors. Before leaving for Tokyo, the swimmer revealed her must-haves for the beach bag and her top performance tip.

“I’ve set myself big goals in and out of the water,” said Katie. “Some of the goals I’ve set myself over the years seemed unrealistic at first. They drive me and motivate me to achieve even more and work harder.”

For the rest of Katie’s pack must-haves for the Olympics, scroll down!

Augmented actuality agency Nreal targets IPO inside 5 years, CEO says

SHANGHAI — Nreal, a Chinese company making glasses for so-called augmented reality experiences, is looking to go public within five years, its CEO told CNBC.

“We’re thinking this is really a major tech market and really looking forward to what’s going to happen in the next 10 to 15 years. Very exciting – I think its more like ’06, ’07 of the smartphone business,” Chi Xu, CEO of Nreal said.

“We see a lot of good opportunities and, definitely, we’re thinking the market size is going to be massive. And we have this opportunity and we want to take this to the final end.”

He said an initial public offering could come in “less than 5 years.”

The company’s flagship product is a pair of lightweight glasses called Nreal Light, which has been released in a handful of markets including South Korea and Japan. Nreal says its glasses allow users to experience “mixed reality” where digital images are superimposed over the real world.

The Nreal Light connects to a smartphone. One of the immediate uses frees people from being tied to their small smartphone screens.

“Whatever you’re displaying in the cellphone screen in front of you, you put that in front of your face, into a massive screen, and that can be 3D, that can be ultra-high definition,” Xu said.

An attendee tries a pair of Nreal mixed-reality glasses at the MWC Shanghai exhibition in Shanghai, China, on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021.

Qilai Shen | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Nreal’s ambitions pit it against technology giants that see a bright future in augmented reality. Apple CEO Tim Cook has called AR the “next big thing” and the iPhone giant is reportedly working on a headset. Facebook, Microsoft, Google and other technology companies are all investing in AR.

But current headsets on the market are expensive and often bulky. Nreal is hoping its portable nature will appeal to consumers. The price varies by market depending on how it is distributed. For example, in Japan the headset costs around $700. But in South Korea, the device can be purchased through a telecom operator’s plan which subsidizes the headset to around $300.

Business model

Nreal has a platform for developers to create apps for the headset’s operating system called Nebula.

“It’s very similar to what Apple has been doing for smartphone,” Xu said. “We offer a platform where people use that for different kinds of experiences and developers — they can deploy, they can develop different content onto the field.”

Apple not only makes money from sales of its iPhones and other hardware but it also gets revenue from commissions off its App Store.

Nreal has some notable backers. Kuaishou, the short-video platform in China and iQiyi, a video streaming service, are among the company’s investors. Xu said Nreal would be working with both Kuaishou and iQiyi.

“As we mentioned, not only are we going to provide the hardware. We want to bundle different services with the glasses. So take video for example, whether it’s a long video or short video. We’re thinking glasses are a much better terminal to experience the video in,” the CEO said.

“So that’s why we’ll be working with those giants, really working on the new interface.”

Disney tells staff and non-union staff to get vaccinated

A performer disguised as Mickey Mouse entertains guests during the reopening of the Disneyland theme park in Anaheim, California, the United States, on Friday, April 30, 2021.

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The Walt Disney Company announced on Friday that all employees and non-union workers in the United States must be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by the end of September.

Employees still working from home must provide proof of vaccination prior to returning to Disney locations, including theme parks and offices.

Disney said it has started talks with the unions representing its other employees, particularly those who work in its theme parks.

“Vaccines are the best tool we all have to control this global pandemic and protect our employees,” the company said in a statement.

The notification comes shortly after Disney announced that theme park guests, regardless of vaccine status, must wear masks while indoors at their domestic theme parks.

This policy was introduced after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course and recommended that fully vaccinated individuals return to masks in locations with high rates of Covid transmission. These hot spots include states like California and Florida, which are home to Disney’s US parks.

The CDC warned Thursday that the delta variant, widespread across the country, was as contagious as chickenpox. It also has a longer transmission window than the original Covid-19 strain and can make the elderly sicker even if they have been fully vaccinated.

Other companies that have introduced new vaccination guidelines include Google, Facebook, and Walmart.

Disney has updated its safety guidelines in line with local health regulations since the pandemic began, both domestically and internationally. Most recently, the company required proof of a Covid vaccination or a negative Covid test before entering its Paris amusement park according to French guidelines.

‘LHHATL’ Star Sierra Gates & Boyfriend Eric Whitehead Give Us A Sneak Peek At Their New Atlanta Mansion—And Additionally Spill The Tea About Their Relationship! [Exclusive]

#Roommates, “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta” star Sierra Gates is no stranger to sharing the ups and downs of her life with fans and following a recent messy breakup, she’s moved on with a new love…and now a brand new home! Sierra gave us an exclusive first look at the lavish home 8,000 square foot home she and boyfriend Eric Whitehead just purchased in Atlanta.

While Sierra and Eric haven’t shared the full look at their new 7-bedroom/8-bathroom home, they did provide us some details about what we can expect to see when it’s completely revealed. Speaking about how they were able to merge their design styles in their new mansion, Sierra explained that she lets her boo Eric take the lead.

“The craziest part about it is that I’m the simple one in this house decoration situation. I just need a bed, a couch, and a place to make some money. He has a lot of ideas, so I’m just letting him do his thing…He’s definitely taking the lead. This is Eric’s third house and his New York house is decorated so nicely, and is so comfortable. Because of his New York home, I let him take over, ‘cause baby I just need my Sade, my candles and the pool,” she said.

Sierra also explained the lengthy and stressful process of looking for a home for the two. She elaborated, saying “We were looking for our house for months and it was a crazy process. The house we wanted suddenly went under contract, then the contract fell through so we were able to buy the house. It took a lot of patience but we knew this wasn’t a small decision. Ultimately it was long but the process was worth it. This is my first home so I wouldn’t change anything about what we’ve been through.”

Now that they officially have their new love nest, we had to get the tea about the state of their relationship—specifically how Sierra knew that Eric was the one and if we can expect an engagement or wedding bells in the future. She told TSR, “Eric and I met each other when he delivered my new Bentley truck from his car dealership. From the moment I met him, it was an instant connection. He was so attentive, and had such a strong personality I was immediately attracted to him, no lie. I remember one moment when he picked me up to put me in my car for a picture and I was like BOO BOO, this the one!”

As for those potential wedding bells, well Sierra is leaving it up to Eric but made one thing clear, “Babyyyy you’ll have to ask Eric that question; but if there’s one thing you know about me is that I can get a ring!!!”

 

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NY’s Broadway, Metropolitan Opera, and Carnegie Corridor all want vaccines

If you want to attend a live performance in New York, prepare to show proof that you received your Covid shots.

The Broadway League announced Friday that the owners and operators of all 41 Broadway theaters in New York City will require viewers, performers, backstage crew and theater staff to be fully vaccinated by October.

Young children or people with medical conditions or religious beliefs that prevent vaccinations can still attend shows if they have a negative Covid-19 test. You will need a PCR test within 72 hours of the start of the performance or a negative antigen test that will be performed within 6 hours of the start of the performance in order to be admitted.

“A uniform policy in all New York Broadway theaters makes it easy for our audiences and should give our guests even more confidence how seriously Broadway takes the safety of the audience,” said Charlotte St. Martin, President of the Broadway League.

An exterior view of the Palace Theater at the premiere of “West Side Story” on Broadway at the Palace Theater on March 19, 2009 in New York City.

Neilson Barnard | Getty Images Entertainment | Getty Images

Audiences in the theater must also wear masks, except when eating or drinking in designated areas.

In September, the league will review these guidelines for November performances.

The Metropolitan Opera also requires guests, performers, orchestras, choirs, and staff to provide proof of vaccination, but face masks are optional. The opera will prohibit children under 12 from attending performances.

“The Met policy states that masks will be optional, this could change depending on prevailing health conditions. Also, unlike Broadway, we will have absolutely no exceptions to the vaccination-only policy, ”a Metropolitan Opera spokeswoman said in an email.

Guests must present proof of vaccination upon entering the theater and be fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO approved vaccine. This means that guests have to wait at least two weeks after their last recordings to attend a performance.

Carnegie Hall will also require proof of vaccination from all guests, artists, staff and visitors and will ban children under the age of 12 from attending performances, a statement said.

Younger children are not yet entitled to the Covid vaccine.

The new requirements result from the rapid spread of the Delta variant across the country, especially in areas with low vaccination rates. On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new guidelines urging people to return to wearing masks, even if they were vaccinated, in areas of the country where cases have increased. This was a reversal of the Agency’s previous policy.

The CDC warns that the Delta variant is as contagious as chickenpox and could make people sicker than the original Covid.

Broadway will begin reopening its doors to the public at full capacity on September 14th, having closed since March 2020. New York City lost billions in tourism dollars as live performances ceased on Broadway, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall.

The industry received government support through a program called the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant, which allocated $ 16.2 billion to keep the entertainment industry alive across the country until performances could safely return to normal.

The surge in Covid cases due to the Delta variant comes at a precarious time for the industry, which has invested in reinstating artists and other workers in preparation for the resumption of performances.