The researchers of the University Medical Center of Halle (Saale) – specifically the Department of Clinical Infectiology and Institute for Medical Epidemiology, Biometry and Informatics, are looking to conduct a scientific study in Leipzig to run a simulation of the transmission risk of COVID-19 in the context of large indoor sports and cultural events.
At a special concert of the German musician Tim Bendzko, the researchers want to understand more about large live events during Corona times. They are still looking for 4000 volunteers between 18 and 50 years. The concert in Leipzig is free. Anyone interested to participate on the 22nd of August can sign themselves up on the studies website: https://restart19.de/en/
The aim of the study is to develop a mathematical model, with which the risks of Corona transmission after a large scale indoor event can be calculated. They also want to test with how many people one concert goer will come in contact starting from their journey to the event location. All participants will be required to be symptom free, and must perform a Corona test 48 hours before the start of the study, wear FFP2 masks, and will be given contact tracers to measure their interactions.
The researchers want to test three specific scenarios.
"Scenario 1 simulates an event with 4000 visitors and an event sequence, just as before the beginning of the pandemic.
In scenario 2, 4000 visitors will be admitted to the QUARTERBACK Real Estate ARENA, but according to an optimized hygiene concept and significantly larger distances between the participants.
In scenario 3, a distance of 1.5m will be maintained on the spectator stands. During this scenario only about 2000 test persons will be involved. During the individual scenarios, Tim Bendzko will give a concert in order to depict spectator behavior as realistically as possible. The arrival and departure by tram will also be simulated."
The study has been approved by the following entities:
"The Ethics Committee of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg has ethically and professionally advised the study. The Commission has not expressed any concerns. No approval of the study was required.
The State Ministry for Social Affairs and Social Cohesion in Saxony has approved the implementation of the study under the submitted hygiene concept.
The public order office of the city of Leipzig has agreed to conduct the study under the given safety and hygiene concept."
I am very interested in these results! This is a good way to test interactions, methodologies, and different scenarios, all under the watch of the State Ministry and the University of Halle to make sure the results are worthwhile and carry weight in the event industries battle to reinitiate events.