Moscow theatres to reopen in August as Russia's coronavirus cases pass 700,000

FILE PHOTO: Russian law enforcement officers wearing protective face masks, used as a preventive measure against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), walk at the annual Red Square Book Fair in central Moscow, Russia June 6, 2020. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Residents of Moscow will be permitted to visit the theatre again from Aug. 1 for the first time in more than four months, authorities said on Wednesday as coronavirus infections in Russia edged past the 700,000 mark.

Theatre audiences at 50% capacity will be allowed, President Vladimir Putin's special representative for international cultural cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency. Shvydkoy added that he hoped this percentage could be increased by September.