Singer Montaigne could not suppress tears when she had to answer questions from the few journalists in the press center next to the Ahoy arena ten days ago.

The Australian would have loved to travel to Rotterdam and the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), but the risk for her delegation was too great.

The twenty-five year old participates only virtually and remotely.

In the first semifinals on this Tuesday evening, a video of their performance will be played, which was recorded under live conditions.

All 39 participants had to submit such a video by the end of March, as a plan B, in case an artist becomes infected with the corona virus and cannot stand on stage.

Peter-Philipp Schmitt

Editor in the section “Germany and the World”.

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    Last Wednesday, the singer Kateryna Pavlenko of the Ukrainian group Go_A suddenly felt uncomfortable, but the suspicion of corona was not confirmed.

    But on Saturday there was the first Corona case in the Polish delegation, on Sunday in the Icelandic one.

    The Poles and Icelanders have been in quarantine since then, and as a precaution, the delegations from Malta and Romania, who live in the same hotel as those who tested positive, were not allowed to attend the official reception of the city of Rotterdam and its mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb on Sunday evening.

    Strict rules for the audience

    The Netherlands is still a high risk area with a seven-day incidence of currently 218. The numbers have improved in the past week. But without an exemption from the government, the ESC should not have taken place under normal circumstances. Now he is part of a research project called the Fieldlab. Large events such as concerts and parties with hundreds of spectators have been taking place in the Netherlands since March, which are monitored by scientists from the universities in Delft and Breda, among others. The scientific head of the study is Andreas Voss, professor of infection prevention at Radboud University in Nijmegen. Initial results show that it is relatively unlikely to become infected in a theater with seats or a football stadium,where an average of 98 percent of the audience, all tested negative beforehand and equipped with sensors around their necks, wore their mouth and nose protection all the time. At music festivals and techno parties, on the other hand, the risk increased sharply, as the masks fell off after a short time.

    Also at the ESC, 3500 spectators are admitted for the first time on Monday evening in the Ahoy-Arena, which otherwise holds a good 16,000 spectators. Two of the three dress rehearsals as well as the two semi-finals and the final take place with an audience. Anyone who was able to get a ticket for the shows must follow strict rules: A few hours before the event, questions about possible corona symptoms must be answered using an app. When entering the hall, a negative corona test must be presented that was no longer than 24 hours ago. In addition, another test five days after the event is mandatory for everyone. There are only fixed seats, mouth and nose protection is required on the way to the seat or to the toilet, but not during the show when the audience is at a distance.

    The general secretary of the Eurovision Song Contest, the Swede Martin Österdahl, says the responsibility that arises from organizing an ESC in these challenging times is not taken lightly. The spectators in the arena, however, who take part in the safe field lab concept, are indispensable for a great atmosphere in the arena, which is of great importance for the artists on the stage and the audience at home. However, the planning can change again quickly. The scenario of having the live shows take place without spectators is not yet off the table, says their producer, the Dutchman Sietse Bakker. "We are in constant contact with the city, the health authorities and the hospitals." The protocol can be "adjusted" at any time.The finale should take place under all circumstances - with artists on stage or just off the band.