This has flown mostly under the radar, but
L.A. County introduced updated reopening guidance for music, film and television productions last week -- effective Thursday, May 6, 2021.
Most notably, productions featuring an audience the size of
The Price is Right can currently tape at up to 50% capacity. Productions are allowed to cordon off entire sections for persons who can provide adequate proof of vaccination. Those in these sections would not have to follow distancing guidelines, although a mask is still required (I presume to protect those in attendance who are not vaccinated).
If we applied these guidelines to TPiR, the show could conceivably require proof of vaccination for every person in attendance. The 50% cap would remain, but no one would necessarily have to be distanced. Just from skimming through the guidelines, there appear to be exceptions for when the mask doesn't have to be worn, including by visitors (the audience in this case). Presumably, this would apply to those in contestants row, on stage with Drew, at the Big Wheel, etc.
We're pretty much at the end of the taping schedule for Season 49, so these changes likely won't apply to the remaining product. However, I think we can confidently say at this point there will be some form of an audience for Season 50, which is a pretty big deal!
I imagine it's quite likely these restrictions will be eased further by July -- perhaps allowing a full audience of (at minimum) vaccinated persons with no distancing or mask requirements.
Even if there is no change to existing guidelines (doubtful), I don't think any of us here would complain about a 50% audience cap. That's far better than no audience at all!