The German study comes to the conclusion that COVID-19 spreads “only...

A study of the transmission of coronaviruses at indoor concerts has shown that the environment poses a “low to very low” risk for participants to develop the disease.

Scientists from the University of Halle in Germany carried out the Restart 19 experiment on three consecutive performances by the German pop singer Tim Bendzko in August. The team has now shared the results of the study and found that transmission is “low” as long as participants follow proper hygiene practices and the venue limits capacity with good ventilation.

The study recruited 1,400 volunteers who were pre-tested for COVID-19 and their temperatures were measured. Participants were provided with masks, a digital locator, and hand sanitizer enriched with fluorescent dye to help scientists track surface contact.

The first of the three appearances simulated a pre-pandemic event without any safety measures being taken. The second involved more hygiene and some social distancing, while the third involved half the numbers with each person standing 1.5m apart.

One of the team’s researchers, Dr. Michael Gekle said: “There is no argument for not having a concert like this. The risk of infection is very low. ” [via The New York Times].

Ventilation was found to be a key factor in limiting the spread of COVID-19, the study said. In one scenario, jets sent fresh air through the venue in Leipzig.

In another scenario, “fresh air was sucked into the arena from the roof and the jet nozzles switched off”. The study measured that the risk of exposure to coronavirus was far greater in the second situation.

Additionally, the study found that social distancing is important in limiting a person’s exposure to aerosols from an infectious person. The study found that the time of greatest close contact was during breaks and when gig-goers arrived at the venue.

Dr. Gabriel Scally, President for Epidemiology and Public Health at the Royal Society of Medicine, said Die New York Times that the results are “potentially useful” but issued a warning that it might be difficult to emulate the context of normal events.

The full study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, can be read here.

Meanwhile, music professionals in the UK have been calling on the government to come up with a roadmap for reopening venues and festivals.

Steve Reynolds, Operations Manager at Loud Sound Limited, who took The Survival Tour charity bike tour last month, said, “Our message is that we need a clear date – not an earlier date – from the government for businesses and businesses to The People can plan and say: “Right, we won’t open until March 1st next year.”

“Then people can do other work, but we know they can come back and their skills and expertise will be back in the industry. It will help it recover quickly when we get back in. If we lose that industry expertise, it will only slow the recovery next year, ”he said.