Covid-19: stadiums can return to full capacity

The Directorate General of Health (DGS) has issued a directive with the capacity and procedures to be followed in sports stadiums and says that “the occupancy of the seating areas can be according to the total authorized capacity of the place.”

After competitions resumed without an audience, sports venues were able to hold a third of capacity on June 14 and half on August 26 – the date of the last update to DGS Directive 009/2021.

“The fixed capacity of the sports venue, when it does not contain individual seats, shall be the subject of a joint decision between the licensing entity, the territorially competent health authority and the security forces of the territory,” it can read in the updated guidelines this Thursday.

The DGS says that at sporting events, “proper use of a face mask is mandatory”, to be kept until exit, and “access to the venue requires presentation of a digital certificate from the European Union in accordance with current legislation”, or alternatively, evidence of negative testing is shown.

“The opening hours of the event should be extended, in order to avoid crowds of people and long queues, and to reduce and divide the influx of spectators until the start of the show,” states the same guideline.

In the document, the DG emphasized that the risk of transmission of the virus outdoors was “lower than indoors” and said it was up to the local health authority to validate the conditions for holding sporting events. in accordance with applicable legislation.

The technical opinion also asserts that the sports stadium, “in any indoor space, must be naturally ventilated,” and “mechanical air ventilation (HVAC system) can also be used.”