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Here's how Germany's sport and cultural venues plan to reopen safely

DPA/The Local
DPA/The Local - [email protected]
Here's how Germany's sport and cultural venues plan to reopen safely
Photo: DPA

On Monday, a coalition of sport and cultural associations will present a plan they hope will allow them to open safely during the pandemic. Here’s what it entails.

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The shuttered entertainment and culture sectors believe they can find a way to bring back the crowds by implementing a strategy based on selling personalized tickets, using data matching, and conducting antigen testing before events.

The paper, to be presented on Monday, has already been made available to the German Press Agency.

Despite the vaccine rollout "no timely end to the spread of the virus is in sight," the strategy paper states.

 

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"As soon as hospitals are less burdened, restrictions on public life and civil liberties can no longer be justified," it argues.

This is what the plan entails.

Indoor venues

  • The plan seeks to have 20 to 30 percent occupancy of enclosed venues

  • Each venue would have to demonstrate that it has ventilation controls in place

  • Audience members will have to buy personalized tickets

  • Food and beverages will not be available

  • Only people living in the same household will be able to sit together

In addition, every venue will have to develop concepts for entry and exit as well as for arrival and departure.

Outdoor venues

"Cultural and sporting events in outdoor areas generally have a more favourable ventilation situation than events in enclosed spaces," the strategy paper states. 

  • In outdoor venues, utilization of up to 40 percent is considered possible with comparable standards to the ones for indoor venues. 

  • Nonetheless there will be a mask obligation when one finds one's seat.

  • Alcohol will be banned at any venue with more than 1,000 visitors. 

  • The basic indoor/outdoor model does not differentiate between visitors who are already vaccinated and those who aren’t.

The concept provides additional options for "suitable, mostly modern venues with new ventilation technology."

The variant called the "maximum model" requires a comprehensive testing strategy in which antigen testing  would be mandatory before each event.

"Positive antigen test results would be reported as required by law." Visitors who test positive, and their companions, would not be allowed to enter.

The concept has won the support of 20 scientists from the fields of infectious diseases and virology, ventilation technology, and public health.

It also has the backing of numerous organizers, including the German Football Association (DFB) and the German Stage Association. 

In addition to a number of halls and arenas, the festivals Hurricane, Wacken, Rock am Ring, Rock im Park and Lollapalooza have also signed up.

SEE ALSO: Is this Germany's road map to head out of Covid-19 lockdown?

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