{"id":86358,"date":"2021-06-29T17:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-29T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/?p=86358"},"modified":"2021-06-29T15:59:11","modified_gmt":"2021-06-29T14:59:11","slug":"uk-music-covid-test-events-results","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routenote.com\/blog\/uk-music-covid-test-events-results\/","title":{"rendered":"UK live music Covid research events results compromised by lack of testing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The UK Government has revealed the results of its Covid pilot events \u2013 after being sued by the music industry for withholding information \u2013 but a lack of post-event testing might make the results redundant.<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Results of the UK government\u2019s Events Research Programme, aimed at helping live entertainment to restart,<\/a> have revealed there were \u201cno substantial outbreaks\u201d as a result of the test events in April and May.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The events, which included the BRIT Awards<\/a> and festivals and club nights in Liverpool<\/a>, hosted 58,000 people in total. Only 28 positive cases were confirmed \u2013 11 were potentially infectious at the events and 17 potentially before or after. There might well, however, be reason to take the data with quite a big pinch of salt. That\u2019s because only 15% of people completed PCR tests before and after the events, with 28% taking a post-event test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst every ticket holder had to take a rapid lateral flow test to gain entry,<\/a> PCR tests are widely considered to be more accurate. You\u2019d be forgiven for thinking: \u201cWell, what was the point in that, then?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other evidence<\/a> gathered confirmed acknowledged hypotheses; open-air events offer a safer alternative to indoor, and pinch points like toilet facilities and public transport pose a risk. There was, encouragingly, no increase in infection in the wider community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before the results were published, there had been an outcry over the government\u2019s<\/a> hesitancy to reveal the data. Theatre companies and the live music industry body LIVE launched legal proceedings against the UK government.<\/a> Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber had been among the most vocal calling for the government to be sued for withholding potentially vital data for the reopening of the live entertainment sector, after initial press reports appeared to prove that live events were safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We are pleased that the Government has finally published some of the ERP research but it is incredibly disappointing that it took the live music and the theatre industry launching legal action yesterday to force them to do so.<\/p>— LIVE (@LiveMusic_UK) June 25, 2021<\/a><\/blockquote>