Can thousands of people watch a concert live in a large hall without getting infected with Corona? Under what conditions can large events take place again and still the hygiene rules for protection against the pandemic be observed? The Halle University Hospital wants to answer these questions with the research project “Restart-19“answer.
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Concert by Tim Bendzko with 4,000 visitors in Leipzig
A team led by the infectologist Stefan Moritz wants to conduct a large-scale experiment on August 22 with 4,000 volunteers in the Quarterback Immobilien Arena in Leipzig. The visitors get a concert by Tim Bendzko, but they have to observe strict hygiene rules. Among other things, they should wear FFP2 respirators throughout the event.
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In doing so, the researchers want to collect data to calculate the risk of infection and derive recommendations on how to minimize the danger at large events. Among other things, they want to find out how many other people the concert goers come into contact with on arrival. “The biggest challenge – I think – will be data analysis,” said project manager Stefan Moritz. “Because we will measure the contacts to all other test subjects within a radius of 30 meters every five seconds for a whole day.” Restart-19 is the first such study in Germany, researchers and project participants said at a press conference on July 17. The first results should be available four to six weeks after the experiment.
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1.5 meters on the benches
Three scenarios are run through in the experiment. First of all, as before Corona, visitors should flow through two entrances into the hall without any distance rules. Then a scenario with a strict hygiene concept, several entrances and exits and larger distances should be tried out. And in the third scenario, a distance of 1.5 meters should also be maintained on the spectator benches.
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“The project is intended to set the course for a restart of the event industry all over Germany. It is known that this branch in particular is particularly badly affected by the measures to contain the Corona virus,” said Saxony-Anhalt Science Minister Armin Willigmann (SPD). His state and the Free State of Saxony are funding the study, which costs around one million euros. Partners are also the SC DHfK Leipzig and the ZSL operating company of the large sports hall.
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Volunteers wanted
4,000 young and healthy participants are needed for the experiment. Information and registration at the Project website.
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