The Dutch government is to announce the reopening of the cultural sector, under certain conditions.

From tomorrow (January 26), booked events are allowed to resume with a maximum of 1,250 visitors indoors and a maximum of a third of capacity in outdoor spaces.

However, access to concert halls and cinemas will be limited to vaccinated people (geimpft), have recovered from Covid (gensesen) or have been tested against Covid (get) – also known as the 3G model.

Participants must also wear a face mask when walking around. Venues and events must abide by a 10:00 p.m. curfew.

Concert halls have been closed and events banned since a lockdown was imposed on December 19.

Nightclubs are to remain closed and unorganized festivals and events will continue to be banned.

[In the Netherlands]nightclubs are to remain closed and unorganized festivals and events will continue to be banned

Elsewhere, the Norwegian government has rolled back restrictions and increased capacity limits for events.

As of last Friday (January 21), there can be up to 1,500 people at indoor events with fixed seating. When there are more than 200 people in attendance, events can have a maximum capacity of 50%, divided into cohorts of up to 200 people. There should always be at least two meters distance between the cohorts.

For outdoor events with fixed seating, there can be up to 3,000 people. When there are more than 500 people in attendance, events can have a maximum capacity of 50%, divided into socially distant cohorts of up to 500 people.

The government will review the measures in early February.

[In N.Ireland]proof of Covid status will no longer be legally required to enter bars, restaurants or cinemas

Northern Ireland has also announced a relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions introduced in December due to the Omicron variant.

Proof of Covid status will no longer be legally required for entry to bars, restaurants or cinemas from 12:00 GMT tomorrow (January 26).

Also from tomorrow, indoor standing events will be allowed again and nightclubs, which were forced to close on December 26, will be allowed to reopen.

Covid passports will continue to be used for access to nightclubs, as well as unseated and partially seated indoor events with 500 or more people in attendance.

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