ST PETERSBURG: Authorities in St Petersburg said on Saturday they have taken the necessary health and safety measures ahead of co-hosting Euro 2020 matches as virus cases in the city continue to climb.

Russia’s second city is set to host seven matches, including a quarter-final, in June and July after the tournament was postponed for a year due to the pandemic.

“We are sure that we can provide all safety measures, we are not afraid,” head of the local organising committee, Alexei Sorokin, told journalists during a press event on Saturday.

According to the organisers, fans will be required to wear masks during the matches and will need a negative Covid test. The city’s stadium, Gazprom Arena, will be filled at 50 percent capacity.

Earlier, Russia announced that foreign holders of Euro 2020 tickets will be allowed to enter the country without a visa.

On Friday, a government tally reported more than 800 new daily cases in St Petersburg for the first time since late March.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2021