Public Health Professionals have confirmed that a number of covid pilot events in Liverpool have not caused any detectable spread of the virus in the region.
The city hosted four events and attendees were required to undergo a lateral flow test ahead of the event with only negative results allowing entry. Five people were found to have the virus at this stage and did not attend as a result.
Those who attended the events were asked to complete a PCR test on the day of the event and again five days later. Through this process 11 people were identified as possibly having Covid at an event. However it could not be confirmed that the virus was contracted at any of the events.
City scientists found that the testing, data and contact tracing systems worked well, with key information being available to public health teams before the events which allowed contacts of potential cases to be traced quickly.
Liverpool’s Director of Public Health, Matt Ashton, said: “Liverpool’s involvement in the ERP is undoubtedly a success story, providing us with vital learning which will shape how this sector safely reopens.
“The significance of the city’s role in this pilot shouldn’t be underestimated – the eyes of the world were on us for days as we made pioneering strides to bring people back together to share and experience events without any Covid restrictions in place.
“Working in partnership with the University of Liverpool and with promoters, we have developed Covid-safe protocols which will now be shared to help inform the wider sector.
“I’m proud of our role in this project and we look forward to seeing how our findings shape national policy.”