Government to pilot large-scale events in Events Research Programme

The programme will investigate how wide-scale events can take place without social distancing.

As part of the latest Coronavirus roadmap announced by Boris Johnson in the House of Commons yesterday, discussions on driving the country of lockdown have been confirmed. In the four-step plan, theatres will be able to open in step three, with a provisional date set for 17 May.

In step three, large-scale events will also be able to take place, as part of the Events Research Programme. In this new initiative, larger crowd sizes will be able to congregate together, with examiners deciding how events can take place without the need for social distancing regulations.

The Events Research Programme has come about from the needs of Department of Culture, Media and Sports and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy working with their respective representatives to explore the optimum crowd sizes, less social distancing or in settings where transmission is more likely will be able to return safely.

Details on the Events Research Programme are stated in the 68-page Coronavirus roadmap, which you can read here. However, the programme will begin in April, with the Government introducing a series of pilot events using enhanced testing approaches. Details on the stringent testing are to be confirmed at a later date, nearer to when the events take place. 

After events have taken place, the government will bring findings from across different sectors and different settings to determine an approach that compliments all sectors and events.

When indoor theatres are able to open from 17 May, they'll have a seating capacity of 1,000 people or 50%, whichever is lower. Outdoor theatres will have a larger capacity of either 4,000 people or 50%. Some outdoor spaces will be allowed up to 10,000 people or 25% of the capacity, but large venues allowed the maximum number are unlikely to affect London theatres. Find out how the latest roadmap affects London theatres here.

^{Photo: London concert (Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash)}