More 1,000 attendees of Latitude Festival 2021 have tested positive for COVID-19. Approximately 37,000 people attended the festival between July 21-24, 2021, and it is estimated 432 of the 1050 total positive cases were infectious during the event.
Latitude Festival was held in accordance with the Events Research Programme (ERP) that requires all attendees of large-scale events to either provide proof of full vaccination or a negative lateral flow test. This was the first major festival in the UK following the easing of restrictions around the country.
Stuart Keeble, the director of Suffolk Public Health, said, “As Suffolk reopens once again and people attend busy events or attractions, it’s important that people continue to be considerate of others and wear a mask or keep their distance where appropriate.”
“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,” said Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden.
Across Europe, the near future of large-scale events is still uncertain. In the Netherlands, a massive movement dubbed “Unmute Us” hosted marches in several major Dutch cities to protest the continuing ban on large-scale events.
As of now, no festivals will happen in The Netherlands until at least October 31 per a recent order from the Dutch government.
Featured image provided by Getty
