Performance venues in areas without COVID-19 outbreaks can operate at full capacity, China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced Friday, bolstering industry confidence.

Removing audience capacity limits in performance venues such as theaters, music venues and festivals is a way to optimize pandemic control measures, the ministry said.

Additionally, local governments in "low-risk" zones are permitted to set their own audience size limits based on local pandemic prevention conditions.

Commercial performances are still halted in "high-risk" zones.

The revised rules are of great significance in boosting industry confidence and accelerating the recovery of the performance industry, the China Association of Performing Arts, a national industry group, said following the announcement.