In order to calmly reopen places of culture and entertainment, a Dutch performance hall welcomed 1,300 people during a test evening. This event is one of five planned as part of an experiment aimed at ensuring the measures to be taken to reopen the doors of this type of place that the population has been missing so much for more than a year now.
Since the coronavirus took hold, the first health measures quickly marked a halt to activities related to culture and entertainment. The places most impacted – because deemed non-essential – are obviously those suffering the most from this situation. Theatres, concert halls, sports arenas, nightclubs, etc. eagerly awaiting their return. In December 2020, a test concert took place in Barcelona (Spain) bringing together in the same room more than 450 people. The objective? Test a series of measures so that this kind of event can take place in good sanitary conditions.
As The Guardian explains in an article from March 7, 2021, the Ziggo Dom in Amsterdam (Netherlands) – the largest venue in the city – hosted a clubbing evening. Thus, not less than 1,300 attendees danced to the sets of several local DJs for four hours. Nevertheless, clubbers were required to provide a negative Covid test carried out within 48 hours prior to the event. Note that a dozen people who tested positive were unable to participate.
All these beautiful people were actually participating in a study. Individuals had to enter one of six "bubbles" (or groups) each with its own rules. Among these bubbles, five included 50 people and the last, 250. Individuals in one of the groups had to wear a mask at all times and keep at least three meters away from each other. Others had to keep at least 1.5m away while wearing their masks. One of the groups had a rule of wearing a mask only when moving around the room. As for the most "free" group, no obligation to distance or wear a mask was in effect.
Let's also mention a rather special group, in which the participants were encouraged to sing and shout in order to measure the release of saliva. In addition, it should be noted that the movements and contacts of each participant have been tracked by means of a beacon. In addition, if the results of the study are not yet known, let us mention the fact that there have still been some deviations. Indeed, many people belonging to masked groups removed their masks under the effect of the craze of the party.
Finally, a word about the other events that will be organized as part of the experiment. According to officials, there will be a business conference (500 people), a football match (1,200 people) but also two outdoor festivals.
