This archive report was first published on 23 August 2020.
On Saturday, a unique experiment took place in Germany, where 1,500 volunteers gathered for an indoor concert in Leipzig. The event was part of a study, known as Restart19, aimed at understanding how cultural and sporting events can safely take place without posing a risk to the population.
Conducted by researchers from the University Medical Center in Halle, the study aimed to simulate how the novel coronavirus spreads in large gatherings. To achieve this, volunteers were equipped with face masks, hand disinfectant, and tracking gadgets.
According to Stefan Moritz, the head of the study, the participants displayed remarkable discipline in wearing masks. The results of the study, which is being financed by the states of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, are expected in 4-6 weeks.
During the concert, volunteers were also given contact tracers to track the distance between concertgoers and identify areas where people might crowd too closely together. Researchers asked participants to regularly disinfect their hands using fluorescent sanitizer, which can be detected using ultra-violet light.
Similar events, such as Liverpool's Champions League soccer match against Atletico Madrid and the Cheltenham Festival in Britain, have been linked to the spread of COVID-19. The study aims to provide valuable insights into how to safely host large gatherings during the pandemic.
