No sign of infection after Barcelona Covid concert trial, say organisers

A month after an experimental Covid concert in Barcelona to test how to resume large-scale indoor events, organisers have said there are "no signs" of coronavirus infection among the 5,000 participants.

A rock concert in Barcelona attended by 4,500 music fans who had passed a COVID-19 screening produced no significant transmission of the coronavirus, event organisers said Tuesday April 27, 2021. AP - Emilio Morenatti

Organised by a local hospital and a group of Spanish music promoters, the concert in the Palau de Sant Jordi was billed as Europe's biggest indoor rock concert since the start of the pandemic.

The participants underwent PCR tests two weeks after the 27 March event. On Tuesday, Josep Maria Llibre, a specialist in infectious diseases from the Germans Trias i Pujol hospital told a news conference: "There is no sign that suggests transmission took place during the event."

'Guaranteed safe space'

It featured one of Spain's most popular bands, indie rockers Love of Lesbian.

Participants wore FFP2 surgical masks at the concert but there was no assigned seating or mandatory social distancing.

'NO sign of infection after Barcelona concert trial of 5000 unvaccinated people
All retested after 15 days only 6 people found to have Covid
"We are certain that in 4 of these 6 cases, transmission did NOT take place during the concert"https://t.co/SNlx6LzpGZ

— Martin Murray (@martinpmurray) April 27, 2021

Capacity at bathrooms was limited to avoid crowding.

Ahead of the gig everyone underwent mass screening and antigen tests and 15 days later only six people had tested positive for Covid-19.

"We are certain that in four of these six cases, transmission did not take place during the concert," Llibre said. "With optimised ventilation, antigen tests and the wearing of face masks, we can guarantee a safe space."

'Very safe'

Boris Revollo, the virologist involved in the design of the health protocols at the concert, said he could not "categorically" rule out that the other two people were infected during the concert but there was a "very high probability" that they had not.

"The measures which we implemented were very safe," he added.

The Palau can welcome 17,000 people, but the 5,000 ticket holders were not allowed into its stands and instead were restricted to the dance floor.

The deputy mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, said the results of the study show "it is possible to relax" virus health restrictions and "restart cultural activities".

L'estudi observacional del concert de @loveoflesbian al @palausantjordi confirma que l'esdeveniment no va tenir un impacte significatiu en la transmissió de la #covid19.

🏟️🎵 Hem demostrat que és possible i fonamental desescalar i reactivar alhora. pic.twitter.com/ENkShQE6uo

— Jaume Collboni (@jaumecollboni) April 27, 2021

Trial concert or festival events have been held in several European countries, including in Germany and the Netherlands, as part of efforts to allow crowds to form again to see live music.

According to a study published by Spain's Music Federation, the European music industry lost 76 percent of its earnings in 2020.

(with agencies)