Before the start of the event on Friday, avid festival audiences can be seen dragging their belongings to the scene on Wednesday afternoon. A similar scene is expected at the sister event Leeds Festival.
People found groups of friends squeezing through the gate with tents, backpacks and supplies and came to the scene.
This is because people are worried that the holiday will lead to an increase in Covid infection-after the latitudes of Cornwall and Suffolk, a large number of positive tests have been recorded.
At the same time, an expert advising the government said that the festival would lead to a “significant” surge.
Professor Lavindra Gupta said that due to the spread of the major and more spreadable delta variant of the coronavirus, the increase in cases is “realistic” and will happen “despite your best efforts”.
When asked whether a surge in cases during the summer holidays and the return of schools and universities is inevitable, Professor Gupta told BBC Radio 4’s World One: “Of course, there will be a surge in cases because of the These events will largely not be vaccinated.
“Despite our best efforts, this is just something that can be predicted and will happen.
“We know that Delta is much more contagious, and it spreads very fast. We know that lateral flow devices are not perfect. Therefore, we must be realistic and say that this will lead to a significant increase in the number of infections.”
Elsewhere, the organizers of the Reading and Leeds festivals stated that such events can be said to be a “safer place” because attendees have already been tested for Covid-19.
Melvin Benn, managing director of Festival Republic Group, told BBC Radio 4 that young people often live in an untested environment and do not know whether people around them are infectious.
He said: “Of course I think the virus is still going on and we must get used to it, otherwise we must increase the number of vaccinations.
“The government is encouraging more vaccinations. We as an organization are encouraging more vaccinations. For example, we have vaccination centers in Reading and Leeds. So this will ultimately reduce this spread.
“Of course, the people who participated in the event have undergone the sidestream test. When they pass through the gate now, they are undergoing the sidestream test, and we ask them to test again in three days.
“So we are doing everything we can, and we are putting people-especially young people-in an environment where they are all tested.
“However, in general, young people usually live in an untested environment, and they don’t know whether the people around them are infected with the virus.
“So it can be said that when you know that everyone has been tested, it is actually a safer place.”
When asked about what he said, Mr. Benn added: “I mean, it can be said that it is better to be tested where everyone is tested than not to be tested. Yes, that’s what I believe.”
Liam Gallagher, Disclosure, Catfish & The Bottlemen, Post Malone and Grime star Stormzy will perform at the music festivals on Richfield Avenue and Bramham Park on the bank holiday weekend in August.
This summer, Festival Republic Group is also responsible for hosting a reduced-capacity Download Music Festival and Latitude Music Festival in Donington Park in Leicestershire-both events are part of the government’s live event pilot program.
