“No need for a distance of a meter and a half in theater, provided a sn …

Quiet events, theater and film screenings, and conventions can be safely organized during the corona pandemic as long as a number of safety precautions are in place. Keeping a distance of a meter and a half is not necessary if all visitors undergo a rapid test and a number of safety rules are observed. That says the Dutch organization behind a number of test events, the so-called “Fieldlab Events”.

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These were so-called type 1 events, which take place indoors, with seats and where the public behaves calmly. The circumstances under which such events can take place are the following. All visitors must advance one quick test undergo, only the half the normal capacity of the hall may be used, the visitor flows must be separated on during transfers must always be one mondmasker being carried. In addition, space must excellently ventilated be and should be clearly communicated be that the measures are. Keep a meter and a half away should not.

“We don’t say open everything up now,” says program manager Pieter Lubberts of Fieldlab Events. “That is practically impossible either, in our sector it sometimes takes weeks before something can be organized. We are not looking at the situation now. What we do is demonstrate that it is possible with the right measures. ”

Low-risk contacts

During the first Fieldlab events, the number of “risky contacts”, where someone came within one and a half meters of someone else for more than fifteen minutes. “During the business conference, most contacts are made while walking around in the foyer,” the company said.

Fieldlab has submitted the research results to the Dutch government. Now we have to wait and see what advice it will give about events at our northern neighbors. According to the Dutch public broadcaster, it is certain that 3,500 people per evening can attend the Eurovision Song Contest.

Negative test

The tests took place in February, in the Beatrix Theater in Utrecht. Visitors were only allowed in with a negative corona test. They also had to have themselves tested afterwards, although only 82 percent actually did so. During the event, the visitors were divided into bubbles. The researchers speak of “encouraging results”, with an overwhelming majority (98.4 percent) adhering to the instructions.

Later, other fieldlab events were organized, ranging from outdoor festivals with 1,500 people and football matches. It was announced on Friday that 16 people may have been infected with the corona virus during two festivals.

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