Vaccinated Chileans shout and dance for study to see if the show can go on for concerts

Record ID: 1633929

  • Title: Vaccinated Chileans shout and dance for study to see if the show can go on for concerts
  • Date: 27th August 2021
  • Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (AUGUST 26, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE LINING UP TO SIGN UP FOR TEST CONCERT VARIOUS OF PEOPLE FILLING OUT FORM FOR TEST CONCERT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PARTICIPANT IN EXPERIMENT, CATALINA, OSORIO, SAYING: "I think for the mental health of the population it's something very important, to be close to culture, the arts, music above all else. To be able to find ourselves again with live artists, jumping, screaming, singing, this experience touches the whole body. I think it is very important and I'm very proud to participate and to support Chile as the first country (in Latin America) to do this." PEOPLE WAITING TO GET PCR TEST HEALTH WORKER AT SITE PEOPLE WAITING TO GET PCR TEST VARIOUS OF EXPERIMENT PARTICIPANT GETTING PCR TEST PEOPLE WAITING TO GET PCR TEST (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) IMMUNOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHILE CLINICAL HOSPITAL, ALEJANDRO AFANI, SAYING: "This is a pioneer event in the region, not just in Chile but throughout Latin America. And given the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in our country, the low numbers that we have today as a result of the high vaccination rate, we can move forward bit by bit with a number of activities. One of them is to re-instate the artistic world in our country, which has been hit hard. But today we have the chance to have this artistic clinical trial." PARTICIPANT GETTING PCR TEST (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) IMMUNOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHILE CLINICAL HOSPITAL, ALEJANDRO AFANI, SAYING: "We are going to have 200 participants. With strict health protocols we are going to have a controlled musical event." VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS FILLING OUT FORM FOR EVENT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SINGER IN BAND PERFORMING AT TEST CONCERT, EDUARDO IBEAS, SAYING: "And we hope with all our hearts that people take care of themselves, that it gets a good result and that live shows return as soon as possible." HEALTH WORKERS AND BAND MEMBERS GATHERED (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF THE MUSICAL AUTHORS AND PERFORMERS' SOCIETY (SCD), RODRIGO OSORIO, SAYING: "Everyone is very hopeful that this provides an important support to our sector which has been hit hard. This is voluntary, for Chilean music and in this way it should be understood. People are doing something that goes beyond just attending a Chancho En Piedra (band) concert but it's setting the foundations for the return to the stage." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ARRIVING AT VENUE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AT VENUE AHEAD OF CONCERT (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PARTICIPANT IN EXPERIMENT, NATALIA, SAYING: "This also helps us, so that culture and music starts up again responsibly and that we can always enjoy it."
  • Embargoed: 10th September 2021 14:21
  • Keywords: COVID-19 Chile concerts coronavirus experiment pandemic test virus
  • Location: SANTIAGO, CHILE
  • City: SANTIAGO, CHILE
  • Country: Chile
  • Topics: Health/Medicine,South America / Central America
  • Reuters ID: LVA001ES21M4N
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Vaccinated Chileans on Thursday (August 26) night attended the first of a series of concerts that will be studied in a clinical trial to see if mass events like concerts can safely resume without spreading COVID.
    The trial is the result of a tie-up between Chile's Musical Authors and Performers' Society and the University of Chile to assess contagion risks at such events and try to get the live music industry back on its feet after the near-fatal blow dealt by the COVID pandemic and lengthy lockdowns in Chile.
    A total of 200 seats will be available for each of three concerts given by local rock band Chancho En Piedra over the next three months in a carefully ventilated venue in the capital Santiago.
    Attendees must show proof of vaccination, wear masks and submit to PCR tests prior to the event and again eight days after. Preliminary results will be issued in September.
    Similar trials have been conducted with audiences of several thousand people attending rock concerts in Barcelona and revealed a lower rate of COVID spread than in the community, though in the case of the Liverpool trial, less than half of attendees returned the post-concert COVID test.
    The Chilean trial is unique in that it specifies that attendees must be vaccinated, taking advantage of the fact that Chile has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world, with 70% of its population already fully inoculated.
    Dr. Alejandro Afani, who is leading the trial at the University of Chile's Clinical Hospital, said a lull in COVID cases in Chile and the high vaccination rate made it an apt moment to try restarting mass events.
    Eduardo Ibeas, vocalist with the band, said he hoped the participants would take other self-protection measures seriously.
    Among those queuing up to take pre-concert COVID tests on Thursday was Catalina Osorio. She said she was looking forward to letting her hair down for the first time in a long time.
    (Production: Esteban Medel, Paul Vieira)
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