New study rules out COVID-19 infection risk in live music venues

A new study conducted in Germany has "ruled out" risk of infection of COVID-19 in live music venues — as long as masks and adequate ventilation were available and used.

According to DJMag, the research was by the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute with support from Germany’s Federal Environment Agency. It was conducted by using "a high-tech dummy to simulate human breathing inside Dortmund's 1,500-seat Konzerthaus. The movement of resulting airborne particles was analysed, with measurements taken on three separate dates," DJMag wrote.

After the results were published, Dr Raphael von Hoensbroech, director of Konzerthaus Dortmund, told IQ Magazine, "Concert halls and theatres are not places of infection."

Explaining the reasoning behind the research, he continued saying, "The past few months have shown that politics needs a scientifically sound basis for decision-making. With our study, we want to ensure that concert halls and theatres may again admit sufficient audiences when they reopen."

This research comes as the global music industry continues to grapple with trying to bounce back from grinding to a halt almost a year ago thanks to COVID-19. Australia has seen sport return in a major way with significant audience capacities, but music and culture continues to lack significant support and investment required to return to even vaguely what it once was in this country. Read our op-ed on live music being left behind here, and read the original story on DJMag here.

Words by Emma Jones

Image: Jacob Pedersen for Purple Sneakers

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