Skip to main content

Packed Lollapalooza wraps up with massive crowds in Chicago amid fears the four-day concert could become a COVID super-spreader event

The four-day Lollapalooza music festival was drawing to a close on Sunday, with health officials hoping that they haven't witnessed a super-spreader event.

Organizers were estimating that 100,000 people would attend the event daily for the 30th anniversary celebrations, in Chicago's Grant Park.

Concert-goers had to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test from 72 hours prior, and on the opening day - Thursday - Lollapalooza officials said that over 90 percent of attendees presented proof of a vaccination. 

Around 600 people were not allowed to enter the festival due to lack of paperwork, they said.

The FBI has been warning that faking a vaccine crime is a federal crime, punishable by a $5,000 fine or five years in prison. 

The Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, pictured on Saturday, has drawn crowds of 100,000 people every day. Attendees are asked to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test at the entrance, but health officials still fear a surge in cases in the coming weeks as a result of the gathering

The Lollapalooza festival in Chicago, pictured on Saturday, has drawn crowds of 100,000 people every day. Attendees are asked to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test at the entrance, but health officials still fear a surge in cases in the coming weeks as a result of the gathering

Tripple Redd performs on stage on Saturday. The third day of the festival was headlined by Megan Thee Stallion, Journey and Limp Bizkit

Tripple Redd performs on stage on Saturday. The third day of the festival was headlined by Megan Thee Stallion, Journey and Limp Bizkit

Only 51.7 per cent of Chicago's residents are fully vaccinated - although on Thursday, organizers said, 90 per cent of those attending provided their vaccination certificates. The other 10 per cent showed negative COVID tests

Only 51.7 per cent of Chicago's residents are fully vaccinated - although on Thursday, organizers said, 90 per cent of those attending provided their vaccination certificates. The other 10 per cent showed negative COVID tests

Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit is seen on stage on Saturday - one of the headliners for the third day

Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit is seen on stage on Saturday - one of the headliners for the third day

A sign outside the entrance reads: 'We have taken enhanced health and safety measures for you, our artists and employees. 

'You must follow all posted instructions while attending Lollapalooza. 

'An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public space where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and guests with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable. 

'By attending Lollapalooza, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19. 

'Please help keep each other healthy!' 

The number of new cases reported daily in Chicago had dropped to as low as 34 in late June, but is now back up to 192 - although hospitalizations remain drastically lower than their peak this spring.  

The Illinois state health department reports that 58.6 percent of residents over 18 are fully vaccinated, and 74.3 percent have had their first shot.

Chicago is slightly lower than the state average, with 51.7 percent of their 2.7 million people fully vaccinated.

Of the six million fully-vaccinated people in the state, 644 have been hospitalized with 'breakthrough' infections, and 169 have died. 

more videos

4X4 driver rushes straight into sea to try and reach the shore

Flowers left in memory of 5-year-old boy found in Welsh river

'It's not about class!' Lord Digby Jones defends Alex Scott dig

Police and forensic teams scour area where boy found dead in river

Air ambulance called to 'serious incident' at Welsh holiday park

Athlete Krystsina Tsimanouskaya in stand-off at Tokyo airport

Four massive cooling towers are demolished at former power station

Japanese lawyer Tomoko Uraki tries to offer Belarusian athlete counsel

'I feel like I've lost a child': Turks suffer as wildfires continue

Opposition slams effort to remove sprinter Tsimanouskaya from Japan

Queensland records 13 new Covid cases of community transmission

Michigan Burger King employee points gun at drive-thru customers

The festival kicked off on Thursday, with Miley Cyrus headlining and a surprise guest appearance from Billy Idol.

Friday saw Tyler, The Creator take top billing, while Saturday belonged to Post Malone, Journey, Megan Thee Stallion and Limp Bizkit.

Sunday will close with Foo Fighters.   

Cook County was added on Thursday to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list of areas experiencing 'substantial' COVID-19 transmission, bringing with it advisories for masks indoors. 

The festival announced late Friday that masks will be required in any indoor spaces on the grounds beginning Saturday.

'We encourage all fans attending the festival to bring a mask as they attend the final two days of the festival,' according to an announcement from festival producer C3 Presents.

Health officials said they did expect there to be an increase in COVID cases. 

'When you're having this many folks who are coming through almost certainly there will be some cases,' said Dr Allison Arwady, the commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health.

She told CNBC: 'But I'm confident that the combination of what we know about limiting risk in outdoor settings, pairing that with vaccination and or testing and ideally mostly vaccination, which is what we expect, as well as all the other mitigation factors.'

Megan Thee Stallion performs in concert during day three of the 30th anniversary of Lollapalooza

Megan Thee Stallion performs in concert during day three of the 30th anniversary of Lollapalooza

The concert in Grant Park is one of the biggest since the pandemic began, with 100,000 people every day

The concert in Grant Park is one of the biggest since the pandemic began, with 100,000 people every day

Some felt the event was a bad idea, pointing out that recent music festivals, including the Verknipt festival in Utrecht, Netherlands, and Rolling Loud in Miami, have been connected to outbreaks among their attendees and surrounding communities.

Dr Emily Landon, the executive medical director of infection prevention and control at the University of Chicago Medicine, said last Monday in an interview with NBC-5 Chicago that she thought the festival should have been cancelled. 

'I think continuing to have Lolla at that level of capacity was a bad idea even before there was a pandemic, and I'm shocked that we've agreed to go back to that same level of capacity, ' she said. 

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o