tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Lancet Reg Health Eur
. 2022 Feb 28;15:100337.
doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2022.100337. eCollection 2022 Apr.
Association between two mass-gathering outdoor events and incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections during the fifth wave of COVID-19 in north-east Spain: A population-based control-matched analysis
Clara Suñer[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ermengol Coma[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Dan Ouchi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Eduardo Hermosilla[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Bàrbara Baro[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Miquel Àngel Rodríguez-Arias[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jordi Puig[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Bonaventura Clotet[SUP] 1 5 6 7 [/SUP], Manuel Medina[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Oriol Mitjà[SUP] 1 5 6 8 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: Many countries have resumed mass-gathering events like music festivals, despite the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spreading. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of two mass-gathering outdoor events, held during a peak of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, on COVID-19 incidence.
Methods: This was a retrospective, population-based control-matched analysis. The study population included attendees to two outdoor music festivals held in Catalonia (North-East Spain). The primary objective was to compare the incidence of COVID-19 within the 3-to-10 days following the event between attendees and a population-based control group.
Findings: The analysis included 18,275 and 27,347 attendees to the first and second festivals, respectively, and their corresponding controls. The post-festival 7-day cumulative COVID-19 incidence among attendees and controls was 4.14% (95% CI 3.86-4.44) vs. 1.69% (1.51-1.88) for the first festival (RR 2.46; 2.16-2.80), and 2.42% (2.35-2.61) and 1.10% (0.99-1.2) for the second festival (RR 2.19; 1.92-2.51). COVID-19 incidence among immunized individuals was also two-fold higher in attendees than in controls. Previous COVID-19 infection, vaccination, and adequate mask-wearing were significantly associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 infection after the events.
Interpretation: Despite the proven effectiveness of preventive measures such as Ag-RDT screening, mask-wearing and vaccination, caution should be taken when holding these events during a period of high community SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Funding: Crowdfunding campaign YoMeCorono (https://www.yomecorono.com/) and the Generalitat de Catalunya.
. 2022 Feb 28;15:100337.
doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2022.100337. eCollection 2022 Apr.
Association between two mass-gathering outdoor events and incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infections during the fifth wave of COVID-19 in north-east Spain: A population-based control-matched analysis
Clara Suñer[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ermengol Coma[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Dan Ouchi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Eduardo Hermosilla[SUP] 2 3 [/SUP], Bàrbara Baro[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Miquel Àngel Rodríguez-Arias[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jordi Puig[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Bonaventura Clotet[SUP] 1 5 6 7 [/SUP], Manuel Medina[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Oriol Mitjà[SUP] 1 5 6 8 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35237763
- PMCID: PMC8883024
- DOI: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2022.100337
Abstract
Background: Many countries have resumed mass-gathering events like music festivals, despite the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spreading. In this study, we aimed to assess the effect of two mass-gathering outdoor events, held during a peak of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, on COVID-19 incidence.
Methods: This was a retrospective, population-based control-matched analysis. The study population included attendees to two outdoor music festivals held in Catalonia (North-East Spain). The primary objective was to compare the incidence of COVID-19 within the 3-to-10 days following the event between attendees and a population-based control group.
Findings: The analysis included 18,275 and 27,347 attendees to the first and second festivals, respectively, and their corresponding controls. The post-festival 7-day cumulative COVID-19 incidence among attendees and controls was 4.14% (95% CI 3.86-4.44) vs. 1.69% (1.51-1.88) for the first festival (RR 2.46; 2.16-2.80), and 2.42% (2.35-2.61) and 1.10% (0.99-1.2) for the second festival (RR 2.19; 1.92-2.51). COVID-19 incidence among immunized individuals was also two-fold higher in attendees than in controls. Previous COVID-19 infection, vaccination, and adequate mask-wearing were significantly associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 infection after the events.
Interpretation: Despite the proven effectiveness of preventive measures such as Ag-RDT screening, mask-wearing and vaccination, caution should be taken when holding these events during a period of high community SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Funding: Crowdfunding campaign YoMeCorono (https://www.yomecorono.com/) and the Generalitat de Catalunya.