140,000 Packed Into Silverstone In The Final Test Prior To Restrictions Lifting
In the biggest mass gathering since the beginning of the pandemic a 140,000 crowd witnessed Lewis Hamilton win the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.
The race meeting at Silverstone marks the biggest sporting event in Britain since the pandemic forced mass closures and marks the third phase of the Government's Events Research Programme (ERP), set up to test Covid passports. The Northamptonshire circuit is being watched as an example of whether sporting events can take place safely as the UK recorded more than
50,000 daily cases of Covid for the first time since mid-January, ahead of the end of most restrictions on Monday. A total of 350,000 Formula One fans were estimated to attend the event over the course of three days, in sweltering temperatures.
The British Grand Prix is normally the best-attended sports event in Britain and underpins a £2billion-a-year industry. Silverstone worked closely with the directorate of public health in Northamptonshire and Public Health England to allow the mass event to go ahead, as part of the Government pilot scheme, which has also seen almost full capacity crowds gather at Lord's and Wimbledon earlier this month.
The tennis championship became the first sporting event in Great Britain to be played in front of a full house this year on its Centre Court and Court No1, while Lord's saw 30,000 cricket fans gathered to watch the second One Day International match in the series. Silverstone's managing director, Stuart Pringle, told the media that safety procedures at the 550 acre outdoor venue had been rigorous in the lead up to the gates opening to the general public.
As part of the pilot scheme usual Covid restrictions do not apply with no one required to wear a mask at the outdoor venue, a measure reportedly decided by the directorate of public health Northamptonshire and Public Health England. However, those in attendance must show they have had two vaccinations against Covid two weeks before arrival. With those who are not yet double-jabbed requiring to show a negative lateral flow test in the previous 48 hours or demonstrate that they have natural immunity from a previous infection.
Scientists want to use the event to test whether certification is able to limit the spread of the virus. However, the race comes as the the country's third wave of coronavirus infection continues to gather pace, driven by the Delta variant, which was first identified in India. On Friday, the UK recorded more than 50,000 daily cases of Covid for the first time since mid-January and that tally is soon expected to pass the previous peak of 68,000. Yesterday, the number of daily cases hit 54,674, with 740 patients admitted to hospital and 41 deaths.
However, organisers at Silverstone were quick to defend the venue hosting so many spectators and pointed out the site is large and in the open air, unlike other sporting or arts venues. Silverstone is a 550-acre site with grandstands that seat as many fans as a large Premier League stadium, but the stands are spread out over three and a half miles. In addition, the vast majority of fans attend the Northamptonshire circuit - which is wedged between the M1 and M40 motorways - by car, reducing the risk of spread on public transport. With 19 entry gates over a five-and-a-half mile perimeter, people can remain spread out while entering and leaving the site, which is not always the case in urban settings. Meanwhile, more than 30,000 fans gathered to watch the Open Championship at Royal St George's in Sandwich, also in the open air and glorious sunshine, as the golfers battled it out for the Claret Jug.
