Or at least, it shouldn’t be if all the attendees follow the required protocol. Doing so, however, is rather complicated — achievable but complex. Which means that boomers and Baby Busters (born in the 1930s) will probably have trouble with the process unless, you know, they have a Zoomer or Millennial assistant doing it for them. Either way the line to get into the Dolby theatre will probably be horrendous.

“Last night’s W magazine party was held outdoors at hotspot Gigi’s. A consistent question heard throughout the night was, ‘Are we all getting COVID now?’ Guests nervously joked that Oscar weekend could be a ‘super spreader.’ Mask-wearing at W’s party and a Vanity Fair party earlier in the evening at Mother Wolf was a rare sighting.” — from “Ahead of Oscars, COVID Concerns Loom as Hollywood Parties Almost as Usual,” by Brent Lang & Marc Malkin.

From: Academy Publicity Date: March 25, 2022 at 9:26:17 AM PDT
To: Academy Publicity Subject: Updates regarding COVID protocols for the 94th Oscars

Dear guest,

Following guidance from our medical consultants and local authorities, we have updated our 94th Oscars COVID protocols for recent positive COVID-19 cases.

Those who tested positive for COVID-19 and are within a zero to five-day window from the date of their first positive test are not permitted to attend under any circumstances.

Those who tested positive for COVID-19 and are within a six to ten-day window from the date of their first positive test are required to provide proof of negative results from two verified PCR, Lucira or Cue Health COVID-19 tests. These tests may not be taken on the same day and must be administered by a verified, medically trained professional.

The ten-day window is strictly determined by the date and time of the first positive test (antigen or PCR) from a printed lab report and is not based on a doctor’s note or start of symptoms. If you tested positive after March 17, 2022 at 1pm PT, you are considered within the ten-day window.

If you are outside the ten-day window (you tested positive before March 17, 2022 at 1pm PT) and have tested positive on your PCR test taken on March 24, you must provide proof of negative results from a medically supervised antigen test taken on March 26 or March 27.
You may use any medically trained professional who can provide documentation of your test results.

In addition, leading up to the 94th Oscars ceremony, the Academy strongly recommends that all attendees minimize their COVID-related risks by: (1) avoiding enclosed and crowded spaces and, (2) limiting interactions with people outside of your family, friends and colleagues for an extended time. Social distancing and masking are strongly recommended.

For any COVID-related questions, please contact oscarspress@cosmoshealthsolutions.com.

Sincerely,

The Academy