Packed Lollapalooza wraps up with massive crowds in Chicago amid fears the four-day concert could become a COVID super-spreader event
- The four-day music festival will close on Sunday with headliners Foo Fighters playing to 100,000 people
- The event, in its 30th year, is one of the largest festivals to have been staged since the pandemic began
- Attendees must present proof of being fully vaccinated, or else show a negative COVID test within 72 hours
- On Thursday 90 percent of those attending were fully vaccinated, officials said, and 600 were turned away
- Chicago’s COVID case load had dropped to as low as 34 in late June, but is now back up to 192 – although hospitalizations remain drastically lower
- Health officials report that 51.7 percent of the city’s 2.6 million residents are fully vaccinated – lower than the state average of 58 percent
- An increase in COVID cases is expected after the event, although officials are hoping that it will not see a serious surge in hospitalizations and deaths
The four-day Lollapalooza music festival was drawing to a close on Sunday, with health officials hoping that they haven’t witnessed a super-spreader event.
Organizers were estimating that 100,000 people would attend the event daily for the 30th anniversary celebrations, in Chicago’s Grant Park.
Concert-goers had to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test from 72 hours prior, and on the opening day – Thursday – Lollapalooza officials said that over 90 percent of attendees presented proof of a vaccination.
Around 600 people were not allowed to enter the festival due to lack of paperwork, they said.
The FBI has been warning that faking a vaccine crime is a federal crime, punishable by a $5,000 fine or five years in prison.
A sign outside the entrance reads: ‘We have taken enhanced health and safety measures for you, our artists and employees.
‘You must follow all posted instructions while attending Lollapalooza.
‘An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public space where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and guests with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable.
‘By attending Lollapalooza, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19.
‘Please help keep each other healthy!’
The number of new cases reported daily in Chicago had dropped to as low as 34 in late June, but is now back up to 192 – although hospitalizations remain drastically lower than their peak this spring.
The Illinois state health department reports that 58.6 percent of residents over 18 are fully vaccinated, and 74.3 percent have had their first shot.
Chicago is slightly lower than the state average, with 51.7 percent of their 2.7 million people fully vaccinated.
Of the six million fully-vaccinated people in the state, 644 have been hospitalized with ‘breakthrough’ infections, and 169 have died.
