**TLDR - Leeds and Reading festival are still set to go ahead this August. This is a mistake, as such massive gatherings will only serve to undo the reduction in spread of COVID-19, and most of the population will still only have had their first vaccination dose.** The United Kingdom has been in and out of lockdown for a year now, and everyone is paying the price for it. Mental health has taken a steep dive, unemployment has hit the highest rate in 5 years [1], and we have been unable to do many of the simple pleasures we took for granted like visiting a friend. This has all been necessary to curb the spread of COVID-19, and whilst unbearably difficult at times, I believe we all understand why it needed to happen. Boris Johnson has given some amount of hope, by stating that the government is being extra-cautious in the easing of this lockdown so that it can be the final (whether that was a particularly wise thing to say is another story) [2]. And yet they are still allowing festivals like Leeds and Reading to go ahead in August, with tickets on sale now. This is a huge mistake, born from the assumption that because we will hopefully be out of lockdown by June, then COVID-19 will no longer be a substantial risk. A gathering the size of a festival however, is likely to act a super spreader event. With huge crowds, questionable hygiene and over-packed tents, there is simply no way that the event-organisers can claim it is COVID secure. The vaccine (until the 2nd dose) is thought to be about 75% effective, but it is important to note that it doesn't stop you from catching it. It is effective at stopping the symptoms from being life-threatening or making you seriously ill, but you're still likely to catch the virus and transmit it. [3] It is heartbreaking to potentially lose another summer of normality to the virus, but if we act as if it is no longer an issue, then there is a potential that we lose further summers, and perhaps even go back into lockdown for a fourth time. We cannot allow the desire for a holiday to supercede our duty to protect our vulnerable and ensure this lockdown is our last. Plus it's Liam Gallagher headlining, so nobody is missing out too much. REFERENCES [1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52660591 [2] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/02/15/boris-johnson-must-final-lockdown/ [3] https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/news/coronavirus-and-your-health/coronavirus-vaccine-your-questions-answered

France too has announced it will go ahead with festivals this year, but capping limits of people at 5000 and sustaining covid regulations. (1) Festivals in this manner seem like an acceptable idea, as the spread of covid would be limited as we are still adjusting to post covid life. However, again it seems like the UK is jumping in head first without following other countries sensible leads. The same mistake we have made throughout the entire pandemic (eg not shutting the boarders when we should’ve). (1) https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.france24.com/en/europe/20210219-france-s-summer-festivals-to-go-ahead-but-with-strict-covid-19-restrictions

Inpatience has serious consequencies as we have seen around the globe. It is understandable to do everything we can to support the income and wellbeing of everyone, but risking further spread by letting many people be close by risks this further.

What size? What summer? If Parlia is going to be around next year, this needs to be made more clear.