Breaking: Salzburg orders masks on for everyone

The Salzburg Festival, alarmed by a single infection at the opening, open-air performance of Jedermann, has ordered audiences to wear masks at all times during the Festival.

Here’s the statement:

(SF, 19 July 2021) The Salzburg Festival and the City of Salzburg’s Public Health Authority hereby confirm that yesterday evening, one person was tested positive for coronavirus who had attended the premiere of Jedermann the previous evening. The infected person had been fully vaccinated.

The surrounding circumstances were duly checked, and thanks to the personalisation of tickets mandated by the Salzburg Festival’s prevention plan, the authorities could be informed of the data of 44 contact persons. Contact tracing is currently being carried out.

The legal regulations and the measures of the Festival’s prevention plan were implemented to the fullest extent.

“After this unfortunate event, we have decided together with the health authorities and our expert council that we will now implement the next safety level described in the prevention plan: starting tomorrow, the wearing of  FFP2 facemasks is mandatory for all visitors at all performance venues,” says Executive Director Lukas Crepaz.

As planned, the prevention plan will continuously be adapted to the development of the pandemic.