No mask or social distancing: English nightclub opened for the first time in a pandemic in an unprecedented pilot test with more than 3,000 people

After more than a year of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemicnails 3000 people from the English city of Liverpool they received permission from celebrating without masks or social distancing in a nightclub which was clear evidence that life is slowly starting to return to normal.

With a strong security operation, which included police officers and dogs guarding the area, the nightclub Circus remained open between 14 and 23 local to host the historic event, baptized The first dance (The first dance). The entrance was exclusively for guests who were able to prove they did not have coronavirus. It was a UK government test to assess the risk of contagion. There was hand sanitizer gel on site, but no mask was required.

The authorities explained that participants must also carry out a PCR testing after the event to “assist in the investigation and ensure that any transmission of the virus is properly controlled”.

the DJ Yousef Zaher, owner of the Liverpool Circus who hosted the party, could hardly believe what was going on. “I’m extremely excited, I can feel the pressure release when I’m about to put on some music.”he said at the start of the celebration. “I think people will be excited, it’s a lot to assimilate after 14 months of nothing,” he added, according to British media. new.

“Working with the Liverpool City Council team, we have made these events safe, with a single focus to help the UK get closer to life beyond COVID-19, which for me and for the Circus has been a great honor, ”said Zaher.

In the same vein, the director of Culture of Liverpool, Claire McColgan, he assured that “it was a particularly difficult process since the night sector has not been open for over a year ”. He argued that it is a “different event than what people are used to, from the ticketing process to obtaining a negative PCR test to be allowed entry. “

Participants in the event felt him as a parallel reality or as if they had returned in 2019 with a time machine, without knowing that the following year would appear a virus that would kill millions of people and change the world forever.

LydiaThe 21-year-old hugged her best friends as soon as she arrived at the party. “We went out three or four evenings a week. It’s amazing to be back. I wanted to start drinking to get ready this morning, I was so excited, ”she told inews.

Eden and Meghan, both 19, started getting ready for the nightclub with a fake tan 24 hours in advance. They said wasting their nights during the pandemic was “Like hell”.

“It doesn’t seem real, I thought it would happen here and there would be no one there, like it was wrong”Eden remarked. “I was very nervous,” Meghan said. “It’s so good to be back,” he added.

At the end of the night, confetti cannons exploded on the dance floor above the thousands of participants, as the words of the main act of the event were heard, The Blessed Virgin.

The event will continue this Saturday, also from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., and a number of people similar to that of Friday is expected.

With more than 127,000 deaths from COVID-19, the UK is the country worst affected by the pandemic in Europe. But the health situation has improved remarkably, with less than 3,000 infections per day and around 20 deaths per day, prompting the government to launch a gradual de-escalation of its third lockdown, imposed since early January.

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