I guess my thinking is we need to take advantage of the summer dip, not to just use it as a chance for a free for all- which however you spin it, massive attendance at festivals basically is. It’s just not necessary IMO.
This is the problem with the normality/lockdown debate. And it’s what the government continually gets wrong. They think that people are desperate for 100% 2019 normality ASAP. They are so desperate for good PR that they will do anything that seems like it will be popular.
When in reality, I think most people accept and understand we’re in an extraordinary situation. A majority of people I believe simply want to be able to go about their daily lives without too many restrictions and without fear. What does this mean? To me it means if you want to pop to town for a mooch with your mates you can. You’ll still have to wear a mask probably but that’s alright. If you want to go for a meal with your partner you can, just be prepared to wear a mask upon arrival. A drink in the pub with mates? It’s table service only and no more than say 10 of you at a table. Sunday dinner with grandparents from both sides and maybe other extended family? Go for it, everyone has had both doses of the vaccine hopefully. Hit the gym/ play some sports? We need to tackle obesity so crack on. And despite what some people think about furlough and employment grants etc, a lot of people do just want to go back to work and get out the house. To me, these are really basic, kind of small things that people really want. Things massively beneficial to your mental and physical health. Until we get these aspects of daily life back, talk of big events etc is very premature.
I’ve been to Leeds festival. Three times. Saw Metallica. Maybe took some illegal substances (Don’t tell my parents). Is it necessary this year? I’m going to have to say no. Like I said originally, we need to be able to get through winter without a lockdown. That should be the number one priority for 2021. We also need to reduce restrictions to the minimum we can get away with, so that peoples lives are not as depressing as they are now. That’s the balance that needs to be struck. These festivals don’t help with that.
This is the thing though.
Bar about 2/3 months all told, we've had to give up anything not deemed 'necessary'.
If Leeds and Reading can go ahead, let them go ahead. We'll be in the same situation this time next year if nobody takes the step and actually tries it.
If the cases have risen too much or there's too much uncertainty, then they'll be cancelled. But right now, it's five months away. And those festivals are 2 months after June 21st, are at least a month after every single adult will have had at least their first jab (and that's a conservative estimate - I'm in the last group and still due in May) and anybody who is vulnerable will have had both jabs long before it too.
Let's just wait and see but as it stands they can go ahead. People were just using NZ as a shining example because they had festivals and gigs on, and they haven't got a widespread vaccination program, which ultimately is as good for suppressing the virus and being able to function as a society as locking yourself away.
I'm not bothered if Leeds does or doesn't go ahead, but it's going to have to at some point... whether this year or next doesn't really make a difference if (big if) the vaccine is fully out there, which by then, it will be.
