‘Digital green certs’ could be used to facilitate concerts, festivals and sports events

Thu, 17 Jun, 2021 - 18:00

Steven Heaney and Nicole Glennon

The EU digital green certs can be used to facilitate mass gatherings such as concerts, festivals and sporting events, the country's health watchdog has suggested.

New advice issued by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) urges caution in the lifting of restrictions and reintroducing of mass gatherings, but notes “not all mass gatherings carry the same level of risk."

While transmission can occur at any gathering, a blanket ban on all mass gatherings is “not necessary.”

“No event is risk-free,” Dr Máirín Ryan, Hiqa's deputy chief executive, said, but “high occupancy, indoor events with reduced use of face masks, prolonged contact and poor ventilation pose the highest risk of transmission.”

Dr Máirín Ryan, deputy chief executive Hiqa

Any organised gathering should ideally take place with outdoor seating, significantly reduced capacity and be of a “shorter duration,” she added.

In addition to the recommended public health measures, the body advised consideration be given to the use of pre-event testing and ‘green certs’ - whereby a person has proof of full vaccination against Covid-19, a recent negative test or has recovered from the virus - as methods which could be used to enable a safe return to mass events.

In its report, Hiqa noted certain EU countries such as Italy plan to use the EU’s new digital green certificates domestically to allow individuals to access mass gathering events.

Pilot Events

For its submission, Hiqa reviewed the current public health guidance of 22 other countries and two international agencies that have begun to ease restrictions on mass gatherings.

It found that all countries examined had begun to ease restrictions on mass gatherings, though the “speed and triggers to easing restrictions varied considerably.” In terms of pre-event testing requirements, some countries required a negative PCR test result in the days beforehand, while others relied on on-site antigen testing on the day of the event.

Previously announced will provide valuable opportunities to assess the public health impact of mass gatherings in an Irish context, the body said, adding that when planning such events, risk assessments should be conducted in advance, with public health measures such as physical distancing, adequate ventilation, hand hygiene and the use of face masks implemented throughout.

Revellers enjoy James Vincent McMorrow on stage during Ireland's first major live gig since the pandemic, at Iveagh Gardens in Dublin.

Hiqa also advise particular attention should be paid to transport to and from these events, as well as socialising before and after.

“It was noted that Covid-19 cases are commonly associated with activities that occur before and after the mass gathering event (for example, due to shared transport or social events), and that this was observed by public health teams in previous outbreaks, particularly in relation to sporting events.” While the risk of transmission at mass gatherings can be reduced by implementing a range of public health measures, it was noted that it is unlikely the risk can be eliminated entirely.

“This should be clearly communicated to those at higher risk of severe Covid-19,” they stated.

Any relaxation of mass gathering restrictions should give due consideration to the levels of vaccination coverage, rates of community transmission, the risk posed by circulating variants of concern, and the capacity of the healthcare system, the watchdog concluded.