Scientists Study How COVID-19 Spreads In Large Groups By Hosting Concert

It has been over the year since our world was turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of cases keeps increasing every day.

Us humans need to accept that we have to learn to live with the coronavirus. But can we continue to live our lives like before the virus appeared? Can we attend music concerts?

A team of scientists is trying to find an answer to this by hosting a pop concert in Germany with 4,000 attendees.

The goal of scientists is to look for the exact method of how COVID-19 spread in large groups. The effort is to find ways to get rid of the spread of the virus in such gatherings, making it possible to attend mass gatherings even during the pandemic.

For the “coronavirus experiment,” the researchers will hold a concert in an indoor stadium on August 22 in Leipzig. The star of the concert will be Tim Bendzko, a singer and songwriter. Scientists will recruit volunteers who are from 18 to 50 years old.

The concert called the “Restart-19 project” is estimated to cost about €990,000.

Volunteers will receive fluorescent disinfectant and tracking gadgets. With this, the researchers are able to monitor the entire crowd’s movement during the event, from how they move from one place to another to all the surfaces that they touch.

The tracking gadget called “contact tracer” is in the size of a matchstick. Each participant will be wearing the device around their necks. The device will transmit the wearers’ location at a five-second interval.

On the other hand, the special disinfectant is a fluorescent hand sanitizer that will leave marks even after the concert. The scientists will use UV lights to know where the people have touched.

The researchers will give the signed-up volunteers a DIY test kit. 48 hours before they attend the concert, they will have a swab at a clinic. Those who don’t get tested won’t be permitted to join. Face masks will also be provided.

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