Concerts resume in Saudi Arabia amid COVID-19 health precautions
Access is limited to immunised people as social distancing ordered
Cairo: Concerts kicked off in Saudi Arabia Thursday night after a hiatus of more than a year due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The first concert held in Riyadh amid stringent health measures headlined Kuwaiti singer Nabil Shuail and Syrian diva Asala Nasri.
Saudi singing icon Mohammed Abdu is due to perform in a Riyadh concert Friday night.
Special corridors are designated for the entry into the venues and exit of the fans, Al Arabiya TV reported.
Performers undergo coronavirus-detecting PCR tests hours before the start of galas, it added.
Last week, the Saudi state General Entertainment Authority said entertainment activities will resume in the kingdom according to certain health rules.
They include limiting attendance to “immunised” people as shown via the health app Tawakkalna.
Attendance of outdoor events must not exceed 40 per cent of the usual capacity with an adequate number of organisers to be posted at gates, according to the authority.
Attendance capacity for indoor events is determined in a way ensuring distancing of at least 1.5 metres between the attendees.
Organisers are required to place signs on the floor of standing locations to ensure physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres. As part of precautions, hand sterilisers are to be provided at gates and toilets, and made accessible to visitors.
Ticket sales are available online only for all entertainment events.