(Credit: © Peter Mayr)

The Austrian authorities have decided to maximally tighten the rules for entry to theaters, concert halls, and opera houses.

The new 1G+ rule will come into force on Dec. 27, 2021, and will initially last until Dec. 31, 2021. The rule assumes that entry will be granted only to audiences in the following instances:

1. 3x vaccinated (BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca) and negative PCR test, not older than 48h; 2. 2x vaccinated (1x Johnson & Johnson Janssen Pharmaceutica NV and 1x Johnson & Johnson, BioNTech/Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca) and negative PCR test, not older than 48h; 3. recovered and 2x vaccinated and negative PCR test, not older than 48h.

All tickets must be personalized, and the use of medical-grade masks will be mandatory at all times, including when seated for the performance.

Austria has exited the national lockdown on Dec. 13, but fears are mounting over the incoming wave of Omicron variant that is spreading super-exponentially in Europe, United States, Australia, Africa and parts of Asia.

The authorities will decide on the likely extension of the new regime on Dec. 31, 2021.