There were no reported transmissions of Covid-19 at either of the business events that took place as part of the government’s Events Research Programme.
Event data from Phases I, II and III of the government’s Events Research Programme can be found here.
From the 37 pilot events that made up the Events Research Programme, including sporting events, music concerts and theatre, the results found that case numbers were “largely in line with or below” community infection rates.
The Change Business for Good event at ACC Liverpool and the Home and Gift Buyers Festival at Harrogate Convention Centre did not report any cases who acquired infection around the time of either event. The data does not necessarily mean that there were no transmissions at either event, as figures less than 5 were suppressed due to disclosiveness, but it does mean that transmissions were very close to, if not actually zero at both events.
The Change Business for Good event at ACC Liverpool on 28 April was the first major business event in the UK for more than a year. The event was not socially distanced and there were 149 people in attendance. The event incorporated all of the usual features of business events including plenary and breakout sessions, exhibition space and networking opportunities.
The ONS prevalence rate at the time of the Liverpool event, ie, the estimated average percentage of the population that had Covid-19 at the time of the event, was 0.08 per cent.
For the Harrogate event in July the prevalence rate was considerably higher, at 1.57 per cent, with attendance ranging from 1,036 to 3,205 per day across the four days of the event, yet there were still no reported cases.
The Home and Gift Buyers Festival had a number of crowd management and ventilation strategies in place during the event, namely:
– Entrances fully staffed by hosts managing visitor and exhibitor arrivals, and security staff manning entry/exit points. Part of their remit was to ensure social distancing in the queuing lanes.
– Each Event Zone had its own entry/exit point for registration/access control. Gangways were increased throughout the event zones where possible. Guidance provided on site via clear and concise signage and through our communications strategy
– Air conditioning units installed throughout marquees, circulating fresh air from outside. Harrogate Convention Centre has upgraded ventilation to ensure 100 per cent fresh air and no recirculation in line with the current guidelines.
Culture secretary Oliver Dowden said the data shows major events can be conducted safely.
“We’ve shown that we can reintroduce mass sports and cultural events safely but it is important that people remain cautious when mixing in very crowded settings,” he said.
The above post is courtesy of MIT Magazine.
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