“The Salzburg Festival’s directors announced [in May that] they would put on an abbreviated program, with 90 performances over 30 days,” writes James Tarmy in Tuesday’s (7/21) Bloomberg (N.Y., N.Y.). “ ‘We did develop very comprehensive prevention concepts, because we want to set a standard that could be adopted by other festivals and concerts after,’ [festival director Lukas] Crepaz says…. Attendees are required to wear face masks…. The number of attendees [was] slashed by about 50 per cent. Seating is arranged in a chessboard pattern…. ‘There will be a minimum distance of two meters between the people onstage and the audience,’ Crepez says. [Festival workers were broken] into three groups. The first unit is the ‘red’ group—performers who … are unable to comply with Austria’s social distancing rules. Even before they come to rehearsals, they’ll be tested and screened within four days. ‘They’re expected to have a health log every day, along with a diary and contact log: With whom did they stay in intense contact?’ Crepaz says.” Other, more socially distanced staffers will also be tested. “ ‘All of us, including the audience, have to behave in a way that keeps the pandemic as low as we have it now,’ Crepaz says.”
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