As the world begins to reopen and return to some degree of normalcy, an important question on everyone’s mind is: How do we return to our normal lives while still keeping everyone safe? This is a big question that is brought up when concerts are beginning to take place again. Artists like Pit Bull, Machine Gun Kelly and J. Cole are currently on tour. In addition to touring, big music festivals like Made In America and Governors Ball also made their return recently. With COVID-19 cases still occurring and people wanting to get life back to “normal”, there are many safety precautions in place to accommodate large public events. One precaution many concert venues are implementing is that attendees show proof of vaccination. They require that people either bring their vaccination card, a photo of their card, or some other sort of documentation from a health care provider as proof that they received both doses of the vaccine more than two weeks prior to the concert. If attendees are not vaccinated but still want to attend the concert, they must get a PCR test or antigen test within 72 hours of the event. They must show proof of negative test results either digitally or in print. Following approval of their proof of vaccination or negative test results, concert goers are normally given a wristband to show they have permission to attend. By making sure that everyone who enters the facility has either been vaccinated or tested helps to minimize the rate of transmission. Another precaution being implemented is that attendees must wear masks when they are not eating or drinking. Although most concerts and festivals say mask wearing is mandatory, this precaution is not easy to enforce so it is not very effective. Junior Julia Russel said that, “Although masks and proof of vaccination or negative COVID-19 tests were mandatory at Made In America, no one wore their masks and I know many people who got COVID-19.” These precautions are a step in the right direction, but it is hard to completely return to our normal lives and still keep everyone safe, especially at concerts.
