German Experiment Tests How The Coronavirus Spreads At A Concert

In Germany, several thousand volunteers attended a pop-up concert Saturday as part of an experiment to understand how COVID-19 spreads in large-scale stadium events — and how to prevent it.

About 1,500 people took part in the experiment at Arena Leipzig. Researchers put volunteers in three different concert simulations with varying health and safety protocols, admission plans and seat assignments. All participants were required to test negative for COVID-19 48 hours before the event and wear masks throughout the experiment.

It was the first time people in Germany were allowed inside an indoor arena for a concert since authorities banned major events at the start of the pandemic. Even though Germany was praised early on for its response to the pandemic, case numbers have been rising recently. The daily number of new infections surpassed 2,000 on Saturday for the first time since April.

The study was organized by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and cost nearly $1.2 million. Researchers set out to collect data on crowd behavior to better understand how COVID-19 spreads at large cultural and social events, says Michael Gekle, dean of the medical faculty at the university.

Gekle hopes the data will "contribute to national decisions as to whether an event should take place or not, thanks to reliable predictions as to the risk of additional infections related to such an event," he told German state broadcaster DW.

The first scenario simulated an event before the time of the pandemic with no social distancing at all. The second concert included multiple points of entry to reduce crowding and more space between participants. The third concert had a smaller audience and strictly enforced social distancing by making participants stand five feet apart, the distance recommended by the German Ministry of Health.

Scientists gave each participant an electronic contact tracing device that recorded their movements throughout the stadium. Hand sanitizer mixed with fluorescent marking spray also helped track which surfaces people most frequently touched. A smoke machine helped participants visualize the aerosols that help spread the virus.

German pop singer Tim Bendzko performed during the three scenarios. While he was skeptical that the concerts would feel realistic, he told the AP that the crowd was engaged.

"We really had a lot of fun," he said. "We survived drive-in concerts this summer and in that respect, for us, this is a first step toward normalcy."

Even though only about a third of the 4,200 volunteers expected showed up for the experiment, researchers say they are satisfied with the data collected. The results of the study are expected in four to six weeks.

Before the study was conducted, critics said such an experiment could not accurately create the conditions of a real concert, where people are drinking alcohol and singing without wearing masks. Gekle said health authorities wouldn't allow participants to drink indoors during the experiment.

"That's the problem of every study, that it's not the 'real world,' " he said. "So we faced the option of either remaining without data or having data that doesn't completely reflect the normal context — but it's still halfway there. And halfway is still better than nothing at all." [Copyright 2020 NPR]