Resistance to concerts wearing a mask and keeping social distance

Like the Dry Law of the 1920s propitiated to a black market for spirits, the ban of concerts in almost the entire globe due to the Covid-19 pandemic is promoting that there are groups and promoters that are offering performances without any type of social distancing between a public that does not wear masks and, therefore, border on legality and common sense.

The best known was the concert by the rock group Great White in the US on July 9, precisely the country most affected by the disease with more than 150,000 deaths, in Dickinson (North Dakota) in front of a crowd that did not wear a mask or maintain any kind of social distancing.

After the images went viral, the group received a wave of complaints and insults on social media, recalling the 100 people died - including their guitarist Ty Longley - in a performance of theirs in 2003 in Rhode Island due to the use of fireworks in a concert hall.

Consequently, the components of Great White have signed a statement apologizing for the event, ensuring that both they and the promoter of the concert recommend wearing a mask: "We understand that there are some people who are upset because we performed this show, during this time test. We assure you that we work with the Promoter. The North Dakota government recommends wearing face masks, however we are not in a position to enforce the law. ”

However, who has distanced himself from the statement has been the group's singer, Mitch Malloy, erasing his name from the public apology for the group's performance in Dickinson, where he resides, posting a photograph on his Facebook profile with three women wearing masks and noting that “the fake news said that there were no masks, no social distancing. I keep saying the opposite, and this photo proves my point. I never apologized. And I will never do it. It was an amazing concert at my good friends' festival for the crowd in my city. "

Another highly controversial musical performance is the one that took place in the Hamptons (New York) on July 25. Images from the The Safe and Sound charity festival headlined by The Chainsmokers and in which Dj D-Sol (the stage name of David Solomon, chief executive of the banking firm Goldman Sachs) also performed, show an audience that does not keep its distance from each other and it does not wear a mask in many cases.

The event brought together about 2,000 people in a Long Island drive-in and attendees could get out of the car and stand next to it, separated from the rest by a distance of nearly two meters (6 feet). However, as seen in the images, the public mixed much beyond what is advisable in the VIP area next to the stage.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced that the Department of Health will conduct an investigation into the concert: "We have no tolerance for the unlawful and reckless danger of public health." New York State is still under state of emergency and rules to tackle the Covid-19, among these is the prohibition of non-essential events that group more than 50 people with a fine of $ 1,000 for not meeting the required social distance.

Finally, the Colour of the Jungle group has published a photograph on their Facebook page that they assure is of a concert of theirs on July 25 at Bastion 6 (Porstmouth, England) in which the public does not respect social distance or wear a mask. Without any problem, they call it the “illegal concert” directly and announce their next performance: Friday, August 28 at 7:00 p.m., at The Gaiety Bar (Southsea, Portsmouth).