Penny for them

Note: This is an expansion on a post.

On Sunday Ministers agreed to delay the 21st June final stage of our lockdown roadmap so we all knew it was coming, and waited to see what was said last night when it was announced with some of the finer details and how the decision was made after scientific advisors warned of a "significant resurgence" in people needing hospital treatment if it went ahead.

If you have been personally touched by the disaster that covid has left in its wake you were probably watching too.

Let's recap on how far we have come first (I am talking with the Events World in mind here)

The Events Research Programme has done excellent work as it examines the risk of transmission of Covid-19 from attendance at events and explores ways to enable people to attend a range of events safely.

The first phase was a series of pilots in April & May (and they needed time after to collect more data on cases) The ERP’s first phase of pilots included:

• FA Cup Semi Final, Wembley Stadium
• World Snooker Championship, Sheffield Crucible Theatre
• Luna Cinema, Liverpool
• League Cup Final
• ACC Business Event, Liverpool
• Circus Nightclub, Liverpool
• FA Cup Final, Wembley Stadium
• The BRIT Awards, London
• Outdoor gig, Sefton Park Liverpool

The programme has been exploring how a combination of testing and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs - actions that people can take to mitigate the spread of coronavirus) can inform decisions on safely lifting restrictions at events.

Currently, events CAN take place.

• Indoor events can take place with either 1,000 people or 50% of venue capacity
• Outdoor events can take place with either 4,000 people or 50% of venue capacity
• Outdoor seated events can take place with either 10,000 people or 25% of venue capacity,

All of above, as long as there are covid mitigation procedures in place:

• Follow all relevant Covid-secure guidance depending on the type of event and complete a related risk assessment.
• Organisers and attendees adhere to all legal requirements, including maintaining group sizes permitted by social contact restrictions at the relevant step in the roadmap and preventing mixing between groups, enforcing social distancing guidelines and mandating face coverings in indoor areas where required.

This does mean that our industry is able to work and I want to shout that following findings from the Event Research Programme, there were NO covid cases from the trial Business Event. Yay!

 So we are in step 3 for a while longer, but we can still do a lot in step 3

• Indoor entertainment and attractions.
• 30 person limit outdoors. Rule of 6 or two households (subject to review).
• Domestic overnight stays.
• Organised indoor adult sport.
• Most significant life events - now based upon the venue / SD capacity.
• Remaining outdoor entertainment (including performances).
• Remaining accommodation.
• Some large events (expect for pilots) - capacity limits apply.
• Indoor events: 1,000 or 50%.
• Outdoor other events: 4,000 or 50%.
• Outdoor seated events: 10,000 or 25%.
• International travel - subject to review.

Whilst I appreciate that this will have a knock on effect on our friends in the event world, for us at Revolution Events Ltd it does not massively impact our plans. We had already decided that Autumn would be our goal, and we have had a massive influx of bookings over the past 6 weeks as confidence builds.

Our PM said 19 July would be the "terminus date" for the remaining restrictions on social contact, and the delay would allow more people to get vaccinated.

If anything, this delay means practically speaking that our events will be even safer, as more people will be vaccinated and the link broken to such a degree that we should be able to look forward and not back again (no one wants the yo-yo'ing back again!)

Jane Longhurst, chief executive of the Meetings Industry Association (mia), said: “We understand the necessity for the government to delay the move to Step 4 – the final stage of its roadmap – that would have seen the last of England’s restrictions lifted and the legal limits on social contact removed.

I agree. As someone who was a shielder and has not been able to attend family funerals, I dont want any more lives lost. Equally I understand the pain of losing a livlihood. It is not easy and the world has suffered - but all we can do is keep positive.

I feel that it boosts confidence for our company and our events in the Autumn, I have seen this in the past 4-6 weeks - people are starting to book and commit to events again which is great, and they trust that we will do the right thing because we have done so in the last 16 months.

We will get there, keep doing what we need to do and 19th July will soon come round.