EXCLUSIVE: The Berlin Film Festival, which kicked off on Thursday evening, has recorded more than 50 Covid-positive results from its testing procedures, organizers have confirmed to us.
A festival spokesperson said: “Since the beginning of the festival, we have detected only eight cases of positive tests among the film crews. The Berlinale test buses, available to both accredited and public, made approximately 2,700 tests and only 54 positive tests. »
The festival continued:In order to stop possible chains of infections, we thoroughly assess each case and each situation, following up all contacts and identifying possible risk situations. We are still in a pandemic period and obviously positive tests are still a reality in our daily lives. It’s good to hear that the positive test numbers are really low. With 2% positive tests, the figures are lower than the average percentage of positive tests around Berlin. »
While the 2% figure is reassuring, some may be alarmed by the overall high number of positive cases and the potential for spread. People who test positive should be quarantined.
Germany is currently experiencing a spike in the highly transmissible variant of Omicron. The country recorded 151,000 cases yesterday (a five-day low) and 122 deaths. There are currently 3.4 million active cases in the country, but only 0.1% of those people are in serious or critical condition.
By way of comparison, Cannes claimed last June that it was recording an average of three positive Covid results per day and carrying out up to 3,000 tests per day. The Venice Film Festival, which took place last September, carried out a total of 4,500 Covid tests in 11 days, returning just three positive results, organizers told us.
However, it is also important to note that the Covid context and testing regimes were different in each country and at each event.
Berlin organizers have implemented a series of Covid safety measures, including 50% cinema occupancy and daily testing. Accredited guests must be vaccinated. The situation meant fewer guests at the festival with sparse red carpets and the festival center itself much quieter.
While many festival regulars are happy to be back in the mix at a major film event, the decision to continue has sparked consternation in some media outlets.
Some actors have voluntarily stayed away. German actress Hanna Schygulla, who has a supporting role in the opening of the festival Peter Von Kanttold us on Friday:Omicron is at its peak in Berlin and I am a risk person. II would be paranoid about being infected and therefore wouldn’t appreciate being there. I’m fine now and I prefer to stay like this. The film’s co-star Isabelle Adjani was unable to travel from Paris due to close contact with Covid.
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