Over 1,000 revellers who partied at Latitude festival 2021 tested positive for Covid

40,000 people attended the festival after months of social distancing throughout the country

Latitude Festival 2021 formed part of research over the summer looking into the spread of Covid at mass gatherings - other events involved included Royal Ascot and Euro 2020

More than 1,000 people who attended a festival that was part of a huge drive over the summer to look into the spread of Covid tested positive for the virus.

Latitude Festival, which was held in Suffolk from July 22 to 25, featured as part of the Government's Events Research Programme and was attended by around 40,000 revellers.

As part of the heavily monitored event, festival-goers had to provide proof of a negative Covid test or show they had been double vaccinated to gain entry to the site at Henham Park.

Suffolk County Council released new data that revealed 1,051 people tested positive for Covid in the following days after the event was held.

Revellers at Latitude Festival 2021 formed part of a group of UK events that were used to research Covid transmission

Analysis also released by the council showed 619 people got infected at Latitude while 432 individuals would have been already infected with the virus at the time of the event. Of those, 175 were people living in the county.

Stuart Keeble, director of Suffolk Public Health, said: "Latitude Festival was part of an event research pilot by central government, which set the parameters and Covid guidance for the event.

"We were one of many partners who helped implement Covid-security in line with Government advice.

Sami Stebbings receives a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine on board a vaccination bus at the Latitude festival 

"As Suffolk reopens once again and people attend busy events or attractions, it's important that people continue to be considerate of others and wear a mask or keep their distance where appropriate.

"Covid is still circulating in the county and whilst the majority of us are double jabbed, we cannot be sure that those people around us won't become very unwell if they catch it."

Those who attended enjoyed headline performances from Wolf Alice, The Chemical Brothers, Bastille, and Bombay Bicycle Club.

40,000 people attended the festival after months of social distancing throughout the country

Other test events by the Government were the Euro 2020 semi-finals and final at Wembley and the Tramlines music festival in Sheffield.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: "We've shown that we can reintroduce mass sports and cultural events safely but it is important that people remain cautious when mixing in very crowded settings.

"So that we can keep the football season, theatres and gigs safe with full crowds this winter, I urge sport, music and culture fans to get the vaccine as this is the safest way we can get big events firing on all cylinders once more."

On Tuesday health officials in Cornwall said they were looking into 4,700 cases of coronavirus which may be linked to the Boardmasters festival held a fortnight ago in Newquay.

The cases are spread across the country but around 800 are living in the county, a council official has confirmed.

Source: Daily Star UK