Government data shows mass events can take place safely

Data from the government’s Event Research Programme (ERP) has shown that mass participation events can be conducted safely, with case numbers largely in line with or below community infection rates for the duration of the programme.

The data was drawn from a range of the 37 trial events that have formed the ERP over a four-month period.

Figures published showed that 585 cases were recorded by NHS Test and Trace at the time of the British Grand Prix, which hosted the largest crowd in the UK in over 18 months with over 350,000 people in attendance across three days. Of those cases, 343 were likely to have already been infectious around the time of the event, while 242 cases are from people likely to have acquired an infection around the time of the event.

In England over this period 1.36%-1.57% of people were testing positive for Covid-19, which equates to between 1/75 and 1/65 people.

Data from the Wimbledon Championships, which hosted around 300,000 people over a two-week period, recorded 881 cases through NHS Test and Trace. Around 299 cases were likely to have already been infectious around the time of the event, with 582 cases likely to have acquired an infection around the time of the event. In England over this period 0.31%-1.36% of people were testing positive for Covid-19, which equates to between 1/320 and 1/75 people.

Culture secretary Oliver Dowden said: “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.

“So that we can keep the football season, theatres and gigs safe with full crowds this winter, I urge sport, music and culture fans to get the vaccine, as this is the safest way we can get big events firing on all cylinders once more.”

The government said the two Euro 2020 matches on 7 and 11 July took place during a period of higher underlying community prevalence and drew significant numbers of ticketless individuals to the area surrounding Wembley Stadium, likely contributing to the increased infections data around these events.

The associated Public Health England (PHE)/NHS Test and Trace data for the Euro 2020 final showed that 2,295 people in or around the stadium were likely to have been infectious at the time of the event, with an additional 3,404 people in and around the stadium potentially acquiring infection around the time of the event. On the days of England’s latter Euro 2020 matches, PHE reported subsequent spikes in cases across the country.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night-Time Industries Association (NTIA), said: “We hope that these results will bring a renewed confidence in the key sectors, giving rise to the government dismissing any possibility of mandating Covid passports as a pre requisite of entry for cultural settings.”

Despite the prime minister announcing last month that Covid passports would be required from the end of September to enter nightclubs, The Sunday Telegraph has reported a leaked letter written on behalf of health secretary Sajid Javid in which the Government Legal Department stated that "no final policy decision has yet been taken" in relation to the issue.

A No 10 spokesman reiterated to the paper that the government was “planning to make full vaccination the condition of entry to nightclubs”.

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