Museums, Italy among the few EU countries to keep them open. Here's where they're closed and where they're not

While there is discussion in the political and scientific world about possible new lockdowns in Italy to deal with the possible outbreak of Sars-Cov-2 virus variants across the country, the discussion about the openings of cultural venues does not stop either. While some scientists (such as Andrea Crisanti and Walter Ricciardi) seem to be leaning toward calling for a national lockdown (it seems, however, that a weekend-only lockdown is also being considered), others are pushing for more concentrated measures: the call of the 1.150 that is headed by pharmacologist Carlo Cementeri’s Italian Renaissance Team, and which has received endorsements from, among others, Maria Rita Gismondo and Matteo Bassetti, calls instead for mandatory FFP2 masks in enclosed places, acceleration of the vaccination campaign with the purchase of extra doses, and local lockdowns where the biggest problems arise (the national lockdown is seen only as thelast resort in case “circumscribed, surgical and circumstantial” measures, applied in a timely manner, of course, should prove ineffective).

In any case, there does not seem to be much hope for cultural venues, although there are countries where they are open normally despite a situation of Covid-19 contagion not so far from that of Italy. Italy is one of the few European countries that keep museums open, albeit with the limitations we know: institutes, in particular, are open only in yellow zones, and on weekdays. By contrast, they remain closed in Germany (where they have been closed since November), France (closed since October 28), the United Kingdom (since November 5), Greece (since November 3), the Netherlands (since November 3), the Czech Republic (since December 18), Sweden (since November 14) and other Scandinavian countries (Norway has decreed a four-tiered lockdown, but museums are also closed in the lower tier, as they were in Italy before the relaxation of measures for the yellow zone). Also closed in Switzerland, Denmark, Portugal, Liechtenstein, Hungary. In Ireland, a five-level severity lockdown has been decreed for the entire country (from 1, the lightest, to 5, the most severe: museums are closing throughout the country in levels 4 and 5, and for now all of Ireland is at level 5). By contrast, they are mostly open in other continents.

How countries where they are open perform

In Spain the different levels of severity are taken on a regional basis by the Autonomous Communities. Basically, museums are open but are closed in the highest risk situations (also read our report on the situation in Spain). Museums are also open in the small state of Andorra, with anti-Covid rules (spacing, gels, masks and whatnot). And again regarding small states, museums open in San Marino, Malta and Vatican City.

In Belgium, museums are currently open throughout the country with basic anti-Covid rules. Neighboring countries behave in the opposite way: in Luxembourg open museums, in the Netherlands on the contrary they are closed. Museums are also open in the principality of Monaco, thus bucking the trend in France. In Finland restrictions are similar to those in Spain and Italy, and vary on a local basis: at present, for example, museums are closed in the capital Helsinki but are open in other areas of the country. Museums are also open in Slovakia under anti-Covid rules, and the same is true in Poland (where they have also reopened cinemas and theaters with a maximum of 50 percent capacity). In Austria, museums are open throughout the country but visitors are required to wear FFP2-type masks.

In Eastern Europe, museums open with anti-Covid rules and reduced capacity in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia. In the Baltic countries, open doors in Estonia and Lithuania, but not Latvia. Ukraine has just days out of a heavy lockdown and has reopened its museums. Museums have also been open for a week, after exiting the lockdown, in Cyprus. Finally, museums are also open in Russia, albeit with strong anti-Covid restrictions.

Pictured is a map of museum openings in Europe as of Feb. 17, 2021.

Museums, Italy among the few EU countries to keep them open. Here's where they're closed and where they're not

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.