(Credit: Landestheater Linz official website)

The Austrian government will start to gradually lift full lockdown measures imposed in November 2020 due to the surge of COVID-19 cases experienced throughout the country. The current restrictions have been set to last until Dec. 6, 2020.

However, theaters and opera houses are not going to be the first to reopen, according to Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz. The first theater to react to the news was the Landestheater Linz, canceling all performances at least until Dec. 20, 2020.

“Even after December 6, we will have to live with further massive restrictions,” said the Austrian Chancellor.

The Austrian government will ease restrictions in phases. Per the sources from trend.at, theaters, opera houses and concert halls will likely be allowed to reopen in January 2021. Per the same sources, the Austrian government will make a final decision about the cultural sector reopening at the beginning of January, depending on the epidemiological situation.