The results
PARIS TEST CONCERT: ABSENCE OF TRANSMISSION
Paris, Thursday 8 July 2021
PRODISS welcomes the announcement by AP-HP of the first results of the SPRING study carried out during the experimental “Ambition Live Again” concert that we organised on 29 May. Results show that attendance at the concert was not associated with an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. These must now pave the way for appropriate health protocols for organising concerts, whatever the epidemic conditions.
This unprecedented study was intended to demonstrate the lack of risk of increased transmission for an audience attending a live show under specific conditions: a standing audience at an indoor show, without physical distancing, with masks in use, and a negative lateral flow test in the three days preceding the concert.
According to AP-HP, under these conditions, this study “showed a similar rate of infection in people attending a concert compared to those not attending. The incidence rate observed in the two groups (0.20% and 0.15%, respectively) corresponds to the estimated incidence rate in Ile-de-France in the two weeks preceding the event”. This was at a time when the virus was still highly prevalent, with an incidence rate in Ile-de-France of 200/100,000 among people aged 20-45 versus the current rate of 25/100,000 (data from Santé Publique France).
Of the experimental group (3,917 participants), eight returned positive PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 seven days after the event, compared to three in the control group (1,947). Of these eight participants in the experimental group with a positive result on D+7, AP-HP stated that five were already positive on the day of the concert, ruling out transmission during the event.
Results paving the way for health protocols tailored to all future developments of the epidemic
While many studies confirm an increase in the incidence rate and the risk of a fourth wave in the autumn, the data from this experiment should pave the way for a range of health protocols tailored to the epidemic risk, enabling the sector’s sustainable recovery.
PRODISS’s main aim is to avoid new “stop and go” events, which are harmful both to the sector’s economy and public confidence. Our theatres and venues must not close at the start of the academic year, even if there is a rise in the incidence rate. Implementing protocols using data from the experimental concert will thus prevent shows from being stopped again. This is the theme of the discussions that we have been holding for several months with the Government based on this experimental concert: enabling our work to once again be part of a long-term vision.
The health pass must be in on/off mode, not concerts
In the coming months, due to ongoing uncertainty about the state of epidemic risk and variants, live shows will be part of cycles including more or less restrictive health measures including, for now, the health pass. As long as the government keeps the health pass in place, protocols will exist to keep shows running. As soon the health pass is removed, the protocols may be modified or even lifted, if health conditions allow.
In any case, the results of this test concert indicate that our shows must never close again, with or without the health pass.
Government support remains crucial
Whatever happens, companies in the sector are finding recovery tough due to sluggish ticket sales (-70% over the period).
As things stand, the private performing arts sector will not be able to recover sustainably if both transversal and sectoral economic measures are not kept in place in the medium and long term to support us through these uncertain times, until the industry makes a genuine, complete recovery.
Today, we are therefore requesting a meeting with the Government to discuss the follow-up to these results and what they mean for our industry.
The AP-HP press release is available here: