In order to aid decisions Dutch government on how to reopen country despite coronavirus, 1,300 people divided into five groups of 250 people, + 1 of 50 people attended a COVID-19 study event as an examination of the risks attached to getting people back on the dancefloor.
A bubble-based rating system
6 "bubbles" has been created & given a different set of rules and all the ravers had to present a negative test for coronavirus 48 hours before the event while 12 attendees who received a positive test result before the event were barred from taking part.
We hope this can lead to a tailor-made reopening of venues. Measures are now generic, allowing for instance a maximum of 100 guests at any event if coronavirus infections drop to a certain level. We hope for more specific measures, such as allowing the Ziggo Dome to open at half its capacity.
Tim Boersma, Fieldlab spokerson
The bubbles
Bubble 1 People were told to wear a mask all the time. They could decide for themselves where to stand, but had to ensure that there were no more than three people in a square metre of space.
Bubble 2 People wore a mask all the time and were told to keep a distance of 1.5 metres.
Bubble 3 People wore a mouth mask only when in motion and had to stand on designated spots.
Bubble 4 People wore masks all the time. There were seats available.
Bubble 5 People only masks only when on the move. There were standing and seating areas. The participants were put in their dancing spot by the organisers with two chairs spacing people apart.
Bubble 6 No masks. People were allowed to stand or sit where and when they pleased.
One group was given a fluorescent drink & encouraged to sing and scream to the music in order to examine how much saliva was released at moments of peak revelry.
I see light at the end of the tunnel again. We have now been in it for about a year together and with the vaccinations, the testing possibilities and these kind of test events, I think there are a lot of signs that we will hopefully see some more parties in the summer.
- Sam Feldt,
This event was done in collaboration with the support of the four ministries of Economic Affairs, Education, Culture & Science, Justice & Security and Public Health, Welfare & Sport to offers both support to the government and a perspective to the people in the sector.
Government advisers will use the data they collect on the behaviour recorded to help make decisions on possibly easing the restrictions on night life in the coming months.
