Published
Mon, Mar 15, 2021, 18:10
- Launching in April, the Events Research Program will test crowd safety before the UK resumes events later this year.
UK city Liverpool will pilot a series of large-scale events in a government-led Covid-19 study event this spring.
The Events Research Programme (ERP) will begin in April, when participating volunteers will attend trial events with large crowds and reduced social distancing at nightclubs, theatres, stadiums, concerts and more.
"Under carefully controlled medical supervision," a government spokesman told the BBC, some guests will not be required to socially distance. All attendees will require a negative Covid-19 test prior to the event, as well as one afterward to track how the virus spreads in such environments. The events will also test nightlife aspects like ventilation, venue layout and the use of face coverings.
The study is part of Boris Johnson's four-stage roadmap, which hopes to reopen clubs—as outlined in the plan's last stage—by June 21st at the earliest. Stage One, which centers school reopenings, launched on March 8th.
"Liverpool is an event city. They are a critical part of our economy, culture and community and so we are delighted to be working with partners across government, our colleagues at University Of Liverpool and a number of local venues and promoters to plan this series of pilot events," Claire McColgan, Liverpool's director of culture and tourism, told the BBC.
She adds: "Our experience as the pilot city for mass testing means we have the knowledge and infrastructure in place to deliver complicated projects safely, and we really hope we can help provide the evidence needed to ensure the wider sector is able to open across the country in the coming months."
The exact dates, venues and promoters involved in the study are still TBC.