(Credit: James Bellorini)

The Royal Opera House Covent Garden and the English National Opera have both mandated face coverings inside their buildings.

“We have made the decision to make the wearing of face coverings a requirement in all parts of the Royal Opera House. With government rules now in force which make the wearing of face coverings mandatory on public transport and in shops, we have made this decision with audience and staff safety as our number one priority,” said the Royal Opera House in an official press release. Those who do not comply with this new arrangement will not be allowed to enter the building.

Meanwhile, the ENO stated, “Following the government guidance released on 28 November, the ENO and the London Coliseum have made the decision to mandate the use of face coverings at all times in our theatre, including in the auditorium. This continues our commitment to prioritizing the health and safety of our staff, performers, and audiences above all else.”

The measures will come into effect on Nov. 30, 2021.

The government of the United Kingdom has brought a measure to mandate face coverings in public transport and shops. The requirement was previously dropped on July 19, 2021 but the government has decided to tighten COVID-19 measures due to the new SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

The United Kingdom is experiencing a high case rate with 42,144 new COVID-19 cases reported on Nov. 29, 2021.