With the right measures, events can allow 50 to 100 percent of the normal number of visitors this summer. This was stated by professor of infection prevention and Outbreak Management Team-member Andreas Voss at a press conference of Fieldlab Events on 27 May 2021. This conclusion follows the practical tests and subsequent scaling up of tests that took place in recent months in collaboration with scientists and knowledge institutions. The results form an important basis for reopening events in the Netherlands.
Fieldlab Events concludes that higher visitor numbers at events are possible. Even in a higher risk level, step 4 of the opening plan, the maximum occupancy of a location can safely be used under certain conditions. This applies to all forms of events, as tested by Fieldlab Events. That is the main conclusion of the studies conducted in recent months under the leadership of principal investigator Andreas Voss of Radboudumc. The conclusions have been translated to a ‘matrix of measures’ that has been presented to the government.
Riemer Rijpkema, deputy chair steering group of Fieldlab Events and spokesperson of Eventplatform: “Fieldlab Events has delivered great results to the government. Concrete guidelines on how to act in which phase of a pandemic. We call on the government to embrace this matrix and use it for reformulating the measures. There is a wealth of information that can be put to good use, in both the short and long term. We can re-open and as an industry we never have to close again completely.”
More about Fieldlab Events and their research can be found here.