Here they participate in the German corona experiment

Researchers in Germany have begun a major study on the spread of the coronavirus at major sporting and concert events. This after the country has reported an increase in the number of patients.

On Saturday, 1,500 volunteers, a third of the expected number, took part in the experiment in Leipzig, Germany, where participants watched a concert with artist Tim Bendzko. A total of three performances were held during the day, all of which had been divided into three security levels, reports the BBC, among others.

The first simulated an event before the pandemic without any safety measures being taken. The second was carried out with increased demands on hand hygiene and social distancing, and by the third time the audience had been halved and a safety distance of 1.5 meters had been introduced.

All participants - who were aged 18-50 - had before the concert tested negative for covid-19, wore a face mask and wore tracking equipment to measure the distance between the concertgoers.

In the concert hall, hand alcohol that becomes luminescent in UV light had also been placed to subsequently provide an opportunity to trace which surfaces the participants touched on the most.

- The data collection has gone very well, so we have good results. The mood is high and we are extremely pleased with the discipline around the use of face masks and rubbing alcohol, says research director Stefan Moritz to the BBC.

Now the researchers hope that the study, which has been funded with almost ten million kronor in grants from the German states of Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony, will provide answers to how covid-19 is spread at larger events and that it will pave the way for the possibility to start with larger sports and concert events again.

Singer Tim Bedzko says according to the BBC that Saturday's concerts exceeded his expectations:

- We really liked it. At first we thought it would be very sterile because of the masks, but it felt surprisingly good.

- I hope that the result will help us to be able to have concerts in front of an audience again soon, he says.

The result is expected to be ready later this autumn.