CAMPERS have descended on Reading as they prepare for this weekend's music festival.
Hundreds of early-bird ticket holders came pouring through Reading Station this morning (August 25) as they get set for a weekend of music, fun and (hopefully) some sun.
The event is one of the first major music festivals to go ahead after the government relaxed Covid-19 restrictions nationally.
Like the few other festivals that have already taken place since rules were relaxed, Reading Festival will ask all ticket holders aged 11 and over to demonstrate their COVID-19 Status before entering the festival by providing either proof of a double vaccine, a negative lateral flow test, or natural immunity.
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If campers are using an NHS Lateral Flow Test to demonstrate thier COVID Status, this will remain valid for 72 hours from the time they took the test.
They will then need to re-test on the expiry of the initial 72 hour period.
A Covid-19 isolation area will be available for people who test positive during the festival.
As campers descended on the town this morning, we asked some festival-goers if they were concerned about the risk of catching Covid.
James, from Southend, said: “I’ve been double jabbed so I’m alright.
“I’m just buzzing to be here.
“Everything they’ve done [in terms of Covid measures] has been alright, so I’m just looking forward to getting in.
“I think it’s safe.”
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His friend Harry quit his job at a fish and chip shop to make sure he did not miss the festival, an event he has had a ticket for for two years.
He said: “It wasn’t worth it to miss this. They were alright about it, so it’s fine.”
Asked if the Covid risk concerned her, Grace, from Birmingham, added: “Not really no.
“I don’t want to get it for when I go back but I don’t mind, if we have to self-isolate we have to self-isolate, it’s worth it.”
Another group from Surrey thought the festival was going to be scrapped because of the Covid-19 risk.
One of the group said: “I was convinced it wasn’t going to happen until recently.
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“I was waiting and waiting and I definitely thought it was going to be cancelled.”
Asked if the Covid-19 measures in place reassured them, they added: “Yeah, especially because you have to do a Lateral Flow Test.
“I think that’s good because you know that no one there has it according to that test.”
Charlie, From Egham, who was in a group of three, was less optimistic.
He told the Chronicle: “If anybody comes out of this without Covid, they deserve a pay-rise.
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“At least two of the three of us will get Covid, 100 per cent.”
Charlie said he was not reassured by the Covid entry requirements, suggesting people would “lie” about their test status to get entry to the site.
Ethan, from Wokingham, said this was the first big event he had been to since coronavirus restrictions were lifted.
“I’m excited for it”, he said.
“You meet a lot of interesting people.”
He said he was only “a bit” re-assured by the Covid measures in place, but felt it was “inevitable” people were going to contract the virus.
“It’s worth it”, he added. “I haven’t done anything since everything opened back up, so I might as well.”
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