Decision is made for the number of viewers physically allowed in “Eurovision 2021”

The “Eurovision” song festival has been granted permission to leave 3,500 fans physically watching the festival as part of the Dutch government's decision, the BBC writes.

The annual music extravaganza will be staged at Rotterdam's Ahoy Arena in May, after it was canceled last year.

Under the plan, the country would be half full and fans would need a negative COVID test before allowed.

Eurovision organisers welcomed the decision and said they “would consider the options now available”.

They said they would mark more details in the coming weeks how we can safely accept the audience at Ahoy's place in Rotterdam if the situation allows”.

Organisers added that the health and security of those attending “are the top priority” and that all artists and their delegations will follow a key “protocol”.

The announcement follows a similar trial involving 1,500 viewers at a music festival near Amsterdam in March, while 5,000 spectators were allowed to cheer the Netherlands in a World Cup qualifying football match Saturday.

Last week, however, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said a nationwide ban and other corruption restrictions would be extended by three weeks until the end of April.

The final agreements for Eurovision will be confirmed at the end of the month and could be reduced again if there is a new peak in infections.

Eurovision will take place from 18-22 May, and organisers have previously defined four possible scenarios, ranging from the show of a festival as normal, to pre-registered and without direct audiences.