Museums, exhibition halls and libraries in Moscow have reopened since Friday as the city eases coronavirus restrictions. 

The number of visitors to museums is restricted to 50 percent of the maximum's capacity, as is the case with theaters, cinemas and concert halls. Cafes, restaurants and bars remain closed between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. local time, according to the authorities. 

Marina Loshak, director of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, is glad that the museum can welcome visitors again, calling it a "very important" move.

"I believe museum is a place that gives people the sense of stability, support and permanence, some fresh air that we have been deprived of recently," Loshak said.

Russia's previous restrictions on the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cultural activities in the capital city to a two-month halt. 

The country launched a COVID-19 vaccination program last December, and nearly 99 million nucleic acid tests have been conducted across the country so far. The overall number of daily new cases in the country has continued to decline to around 20,000 since late December.

(With input from AP, Xinhua)