Lollapalooza raises concerns over COVID-19 as spectators flock to Chicago

The Lollapalooza outdoor music festival is underway in Chicago, raising some concerns as the delta variant is causing an increase in COVID cases across the country. But organizers of the four-day event said proof of vaccination or negative test results were required for entry.

More than 90% of spectators showed proof of vaccination on the first day of the festival, organizers said, while 8% showed proof of a negative test result. They said 600 people were refused entry for showing up without the necessary documents, and if you are not vaccinated you must wear a mask.

Despite signs reminding these spectators to wear masks, few have been seen wearing them, and it is not known how they are applied. Brad Watson, a vaccinated spectator, said he was “a little uncomfortable” and “a little nervous about all the revolutionary cases”.

“I’m not going to get that close to the artists because there will be people there,” Watson told CBS Chicago. “I’ll keep my distance.”

The city of Chicago said it worked closely with organizers ahead of the festival, which includes headliners Foo Fighters, Post Malone, Miley Cyrus and Tyler, the creator. Still, the thought of nearly 100,000 crowded people worries Dr. Emily Landon, an epidemiologist at the University of Chicago.

“I’m not that worried about Chicago, but I’m really worried about those little towns or those little unvaccinated places in America that have sent some of their teens to Lollapalooza, for a really good time,” Landon said.

Across the country, new COVID cases and hospitalizations are slightly higher than they were last summer, and nearly 35,000 people vaccinated per week are suffering from “breakthrough“infections. Of the 164 million people fully vaccinated, this represents 0.02%.

Meanwhile, other large U.S. companies have said they will need vaccines for their employees, including Disney and Walmart. And you will also need the shot to play or watch shows on Broadway.

The CDC is now warning that Americans who are vaccinated can transmit the Delta variant just as easily as those who are not, and that the variant appears to cause more serious illness and death. But the agency also claims that 97% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 have not been vaccinated.

“I’m afraid this is just the start of a pretty big wave down south,” said Dr Peter Hotez, of Baylor College of Medicine. “Anyone who has not yet been vaccinated or who has not been recently infected, there is a high probability that they will catch COVID in the next few weeks.”

“As bad as it is, I’m afraid it will get worse as the school year opens and there will be a lot more transmission,” Hotez said.

Justin Carissimo contributed to this report.