<p>Authorities in Saint Petersburg said 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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>"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.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/fifa-open-to-everything-including-world-cup-every-two-years-988619.html" target="_blank">FIFA 'open to everything' including World Cup every two years </a></strong></p>.<p>According to the organisers, fans will be required to wear masks during the matches and will need a negative Covid test.</p>.<p>The city's stadium, Gazprom Arena, will be filled at 50 percent capacity.</p>.<p>Earlier, Russia announced that foreign holders of Euro 2020 tickets will be allowed to enter the country without a visa.</p>.<p>On Friday, a government tally reported more than 800 new daily cases in Saint Petersburg for the first time since late March.</p>.<p>The same day a temporary hospital for Covid patients that closed in February was put back into operation.</p>.<p>Russia has been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic with the sixth-highest number of cases in the world and imposed a strict lockdown when the pandemic first swept across the country last spring.</p>.<p>Most measures were lifted within several months, with authorities opting to protect the struggling economy and pinning their hopes on curbing the outbreak with vaccines.</p>.<p>Although a mass vaccination campaign started in early December, ahead of most countries, Russia has struggled to innoculate its citizens.</p>
<p>Authorities in Saint Petersburg said 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.</p>.<p>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.</p>.<p>"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.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/football/fifa-open-to-everything-including-world-cup-every-two-years-988619.html" target="_blank">FIFA 'open to everything' including World Cup every two years </a></strong></p>.<p>According to the organisers, fans will be required to wear masks during the matches and will need a negative Covid test.</p>.<p>The city's stadium, Gazprom Arena, will be filled at 50 percent capacity.</p>.<p>Earlier, Russia announced that foreign holders of Euro 2020 tickets will be allowed to enter the country without a visa.</p>.<p>On Friday, a government tally reported more than 800 new daily cases in Saint Petersburg for the first time since late March.</p>.<p>The same day a temporary hospital for Covid patients that closed in February was put back into operation.</p>.<p>Russia has been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic with the sixth-highest number of cases in the world and imposed a strict lockdown when the pandemic first swept across the country last spring.</p>.<p>Most measures were lifted within several months, with authorities opting to protect the struggling economy and pinning their hopes on curbing the outbreak with vaccines.</p>.<p>Although a mass vaccination campaign started in early December, ahead of most countries, Russia has struggled to innoculate its citizens.</p>