Pollstar (09/11/20) Rendon, Francisco

Improved COVID-19 testing offers hope for the live events industry. CrowdRx founder Andrew Bazos said while U.S. federal agencies have procured the current production for rapid-result tests, his company will implement the tests in its protocols to allow for the resurgence of spectator events. He said back in May that testing was continuously improving and would be critical to venues reopening. Bazos added that instant saliva tests would address many challenges venues would encounter with implementing standardized tests. COVID-testing has become a central pillar of Pennsylvania's Elements Music & Art Festival, with founders Brett Herman and Timothy Monkiewicz having already organized an In My Elements retreat in July 10-12, with a second planned for late September. "At the time testing was not covered by insurance, so the overall ticket cost had to be much higher," Herman said. "Now with insurance being covered more widely across the state, we're hoping the cost of a weekend gathering like this can continue to go down. If regular testing was required weekly: to go to a concert, to go to a weekly retreat, perhaps we can encourage people to get tested en masse."

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