On Friday (21), the Ministry of Health announced that only 15 people had been infected with the Covid-19 virus, out of 60,000 who participated in May in group gatherings without a social distance or mask, as part of several experimental tests conducted by the British government.
In search of ways to re-enable mass events this summer after the sharp decline in coronavirus cases, Boris Johnson’s CEO has authorized nine major events to take place without measures to combat viruses.
Three football matches at Wembley Stadium (21,000 people), the Brit Awards Gala at London’s O2 Arena (4,000 people), the Billiards World Cup Final and various events in Liverpool – including a party with 3,000 people and a music festival – took part in this pilot experience.
All participants must show a negative test taken 24 hours before the events, some of which did not even require masks or social distancing.
After each pilot test, the participants also had to take a PCR virus detection test.
Only 15 of these 60,000 people have tested positive for COVID-19. That number is in line with the current infection rate among the British population, which is 22 per 100,000 people, according to the latest official data.
The Ministry of Health commented, saying: “These experimental projects are scientifically designed and supervised to reduce the risk of transmission,” stressing that it “works closely” with the tracking system “to ensure that all contacts are identified after a positive diagnosis.”
The country hardest hit by the epidemic in Europe, with nearly 128,000 deaths, the United Kingdom recorded a remarkable improvement in its health thanks to the long winter confinement and an active vaccination campaign.
Since Monday, when England took a new step in its gradual shrinkage, cultural institutions and stadiums have managed to receive up to 1,000 spectators indoors, and up to 4,000 outside, but with hygienic standards always respected.
The government plans to lift the latest restrictions on June 21, but the development of the so-called “ Indian strain ” of the Coronavirus, which is more contagious, worries the authorities, who may end up delaying the reopening of this total.
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