Music festivals: risk of contagion, lack of control and anxious artists

08/07/2021 14:00

• Clarín.com

• Shows

Updated 08/07/2021 2:00 PM

The long-awaited return to normality is waiting and music festivals are an example of the crossroads that are appearing.

With the advance of vaccination, many artists turn to this modality to be able to continue with their work, while the organizers try to put together schemes taking advantage of the public's enthusiasm to participate in live shows again.

However, the delta strain of

Covid

is complicating matters.

And in Europe the dilemma around the subject is beginning to be seen.

If the effects of the extended vaccination allowed to have a more positive outlook, the pandemic did not end and some numbers indicate that the risk is still high.

This puts producers, artists and the public themselves eager to return to festivals at a crossroads. 

Recently, a study carried out by the Catalan authorities realized that the great music festivals had increased infections in Catalonia.

The research was carried out among some 50,000 attendees at three massive festivals, 15 days after it was carried out.

And they compared them with a certain group during the same days that the events were held.

Lollapalooza Festival, in Chicago.

The 2021 edition was with a negative PCR certificate, but without chinstraps.

AP Photo

The result was that the expected diagnoses were higher than expected, with 842 more cases than were in the previous counts.

According to this report, after the Vida, Canet Rock and Cruïlla festivals, held at the beginning of July, there were 2,279 infected attendees.

Controls

The previous controls had detected much fewer cases and the health authorities of the Spanish region found alarming numbers: 76% more cases than those registered in a control group and 58% more than expected.

These mass gatherings had a double effect: they contributed to community transmission.

"But with 842 more cases than expected, we cannot say that they were hyperdisseminating events," they explained. The celebration of these festivals in Catalonia took place in the middle of a fifth wave, with the delta variant on the rise. The incidence of infections when celebrated Canet Rock and Vida, between June 30 and July 4, it was 2.92 per 100 thousand people. It is recommended that it be below 1.

Some wonder if the controls failed, an issue that appears to be more complex than expected.

These festivals required a negative antigen test as a requirement to enter and the mandatory use of chinstraps and masks.

But in the photos that were seen of the concerts, this norm was not fulfilled correctly.

Fireworks.

The 2021 Lollapalooza in Chicago, and the attempt to get back to normal with live festivals.

Photo.

AP

The Catalan Minister of Health, Josep Maria Argimon, made a self-criticism.

"We do not yet know whether or not they have been hyperdisseminating events, but what they have been is precisely events that gave a more sense of normality than we had to give at that time," he said in an interview. At concerts there were people very close to each other and not all of them wore chinstraps.

The issue in Great Britain is on the same track.

But they are also thinking of implementing a health pass that attendees must present proving that they have been vaccinated for 14 days before attending a festival and a negative test carried out in the 36 hours prior to the concert.

But these immunity tests worry the organizers and the artists, since they believe that so many requirements will scare away many young attendees who resist vaccines and carry out all that pre-concert circuit.

Eric Clapton's position (and others)

In this sense, some artists such as Ian Brown, Eric Clapton and

Richard Ashcroft

refuse to participate in festivals that implement these measures.

Aschcroft, specifically, just got off the Victorious Festival, for that reason.

On the other side of the Atlantic, a new edition of the Lollapalooza in Chicago ended and marked the return to mass shows, with 400 thousand attendees.

Grant Park in Chicago once again hosted the Lollapalooza.

AP Photo

The Lollapalooza was held outdoors in the traditional Grant Park, and the Foo Fighters, Post Malone, Tyler The Creator and Miley Cyrus participated, among more than 170 bands and soloists.

As part of the protocol, attendees were required to present a negative PCR or vaccination certificate.

It is not known if, during the four days of the festival, they caused more infections among the attendees.

These experiences can serve local organizers in the face of the possibility of the reopening of massive shows that President Alberto Fernández announced this Friday.

Without specifying dates yet on when these initiatives will come into effect, the return of the public with reduced capacity in this type of shows will be gradual.

For now, and as long as the new strains of Covid continue to circulate, the question remains of how to continue with this type of show between the delicate balance so that the economy of the sector does not collapse and without, at the same time, neglecting the health of the artists and the public.

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