But during the pauses or singalong moments, an odd sound filled the silence: hundreds of voices trying to sing or cheer through tightly fitted masks.

The 1,400 or so people who attended the concert, one of the largest indoor gatherings in Germany in months, were not breaking any rules. In fact, they were the subjects of a study by researchers at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, a public institution, to gather data on crowded indoor events during the coronavirus pandemic.

“It was weird with the masks,” said geography student Jonas Spiegel, 23, during a break, his face red from heat and exhaustion.

The aim of the study, researchers said, was to identify approaches that could allow concerts and other events to resume safely, before the emergence of an effective vaccine. Participants, all of whom had tested negative for the virus, were hooked up to tracking devices.

“I hope that this study will help to keep the joy of life up around the world,” said Michael …continued .
[Source: Washington Post]