Jim Geraghty of National Review Online explores the latest bit of head-scratching COVID-19 complaints.
I just listened to a segment on Bloomberg Radio, and the announcer ominously warned that the Lollapalooza concert series in Chicago could turn into “Covid-palooza.” You don’t have to look far to find similar sentiments, as the Independent reports, “photos of huge, unmasked crowds are spurring fears that the music festival could become a Covid-19 super-spreader event” and the Chicago Sun-Times declares, “now ahead, comes the major COVID-19 outbreak, super-spreader style. That’s not just the likely outcome of Chicago’s just concluded four-day music festival. It’s a certainty.”
Except… more than 90 percent of attendees showed proof of vaccination on the first day, and 8 percent showed proof of a negative COVID-19 test within the past 72 hours. About 600 people were turned away because they didn’t bring either. Masks were recommended in the indoor spaces on the first two days, and required on the second two days of the four-day festival, but no restrictions applied in the outdoor spaces.
That’s… fine. That’s what you’re supposed to do!
Is it possible someone entered who had inaccurate test results? Sure. All testing systems are imperfect and run a small risk of false negatives, and false positives.
Is it possible someone accurately tested negative, but subsequently caught the virus? Sure. The test can only tell you if you’re infected at the time of the test. …
… Is it possible people who are vaccinated will spread it to the unvaccinated? Yes, but that’s an argument for getting the shots into the remaining unvaccinated people, not an argument for banning large concerts. The vaccinated have done what they’re supposed to do; stop reimposing restrictions upon them. Stop nagging the vaccinated because you’re so angry at the unvaccinated. If the thought of going into a crowded venue like a concert or sports event strikes you as too risky, then don’t do it.
