The COVID-fueled two steps forward, one step back pattern of late for arts venues continued this week as the folks at the Sweetwater Music Hall announced that, “due to an audience of caution towards the surges in COVID-19,” the venue is closed until December 28. Fueled by the Omicron, the number of daily new confirmed cases in Marin rose to 106 on Dec. 20, up from 14 on Nov. 16.
“We are doing so in order to fully sanitize and as a rest for all staff members to rest and remain healthy,” Sweetwater GM Maria Hoppe said in a statement.
The temporary closure means that a few regular holiday shows, like those by the renowned Christmas Jug Band and local stalwart Matt Jaffe have been canceled. Refunds will be issued at the point of purchase, according to Sweetwater officials.
Performances by The Christmas Jug Band and Matt Jaffe which were set to occur before the venue shuttered its doors have been canceled. Refunds will be issued at the point of purchase.
If the venue reopens on Dec. 28 as planned, they have Pimps of Joytime, Hot Buttered Rum and a New Year’s Eve celebration with the Monophonics lined up.
As a long time Mill Valley resident until I recently moved back to the UK I am extremely disappointed that cancellations have occurred as s result of the Omicron variant. Here in the UK life in the hospitality industry is proceeding as usual with the wise judgements that Omicron is extremely infectious but evidently no worse than a cold and not causing undue stress to the hospital systems. It seems that my old home (the SF Bay Area) is reacting with unnecessary concern to this new variant.
We prefer to ensure the safety of our community, who heartily commends Sweetwater for the care they’re considering for their staff, musicians and patrons. It is the wise and heartfelt decisions such as these that keep us ahead of the curve in Mill Valley and Marin County. The NYT extensively reported on the current rampant pandemic disaster in the UK today:
“England’s National Health Service is now on a war footing, one of its top medical officials warned on Thursday, saying its hospitals would erect field wards to help deal with the surge in coronavirus cases that has produced a steep rise in hospitalizations nationally.”