Final Results Of Events Research Programme

The final results of the Events Research programme have been published. These consist of two scientific notes and a summary document. More details at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/events-research-programme-phase-ii-and-iii-findings

Two scientific Notes:

• Emerging findings from studies of indicators of SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk at the Events Research Programme: environment, crowd densities and attendee behaviour
• A self-controlled case series study to measure the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with attendance at an Events Research Programme event.

Some of the main findings are:

• Environmental and behavioural risk factors associated with COVID-19 transmission at events are complex and contextual.
• Good air quality, for the given occupancy levels, was found in nearly all venues, however there were situations leading to poor air quality in some spaces: mostly due to pockets of overcrowding but occasionally due to ventilations strategies needing improvement.
• Adherence to safety measures including physical distancing and face covering usage were higher at events or locations within an event where they were required rather than discretionary.
• Individual risk while attending an event is dependent on social interactions, on the interaction with the environment, and on the individual journey through an event.
• There was little evidence of increased transmission by attendance at the following categories of events (although these should be treated with caution due to capacity constraints in operation at the time):
   mainly outdoor seated
   mainly outdoor partially seated
   indoor seated theatre events
• Attendance at the mainly outdoor unseated events studied (Goodwood, Latitude and Tramlines) was associated with a 1.7 fold increased risk of COVID-19 transmission amongst attendees (albeit from a very low base line).

Analysis of the data from ERP continues and further investigation of key risk factors will be used for further modelling and to inform policy guidance. More details at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/events-research-programme-phase-ii-and-iii-findings