Boardmasters: At least 56 Covid cases linked to Cornwall festival in Swansea Bay alone

A growing number of parents and young people have taken to social media to report that they contracted coronavirus after attending Boardmasters

At least 56 Covid-19 cases have been linked to Cornwall's Boardmasters festival - in Swansea Bay alone.

A growing number of parents and young people have taken to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even contacted CornwallLive to report that they contracted coronavirus after attending Boardmasters.

Public Health England is expected to release the estimated number of cases in England linked to the event in the next few days.

But, in Wales, it has been confirmed that at least 56 positive cases have been recorded in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.

Swansea Bay University Health Board is now urging anyone who went to the festival to get a PCR test immediately if they develop symptoms, Wales Online reports.

As well as the classic signs of a new cough, high temperature, and loss of taste and smell symptoms can include sneezing, sore throat, headaches, fatigue, and any symptom which is unusual for the individual.

Some music fans may also be planning to go to the upcoming Reading and Leeds festivals, and there is concern that some infected people could attend and pass the virus on further, according to the health board.

Sion Lingard, Public Health Wales health protection consultant in Swansea Bay, said: “We are concerned that some people who attended the Boardmasters festival and are now feeling unwell may not realise they may be infected with Covid-19. It’s important they get tested and if the result is positive to self-isolate to protect others.

Pop-up Covid vaccination unit at Boardmasters in Watergate Bay (Image: Hugh Hastings)

“We are also calling on people to be responsible and remember they must not go to any other event, including festivals, if they have tested positive for Covid-19 or have Covid-19 symptoms. The Delta variant is highly transmissible and even outdoor events like music festivals have tents and marquees which are often packed out.”

People who have not tested positive or have symptoms and who plan to travel to mass events are advised to take precautions when travelling. Those travelling by car or coach should wear face masks and keep windows open where possible to reduce the chance of transmission.

Boardmasters' organisers said they will closely monitor the event's impact on Covid cases in the coming weeks.

Since the Government allowed live events to return, Boardmasters worked closely with experts from Cornwall Council’s Public Health service, wider Cornwall Council departments, the NHS and emergency services to put in place a variety of measures to manage the risk of infection at what is effectively a pop-up town with 50,000 temporary residents and visitors.

A spokesperson for the festival said: "In addition to having the advantage of perhaps the best ventilated venue in the country, we asked festival goers to play their part in reducing the impact of potential infection by showing proof of full vaccination, a negative lateral flow test or immunity from having had the virus before they could join us on site.

"All staff, regardless of vaccination status, had to show a negative test every 48 hours and all campers were asked to re-test before they could come back into the arena on Friday.

"By giving those who had to isolate on festival dates, or who tested positive for Covid-19 before or during the festival, the ability to roll-over their tickets to 2022, we made sure they would not lose out by following the guidance and helping to reduce infections. We are processing over 450 requests from those affected and we are very grateful to them for doing their bit for the entire Boardmasters community."

The spokesperson added: "Like any town, we cannot eliminate risk entirely and, while it is still too early to see from the data if there has been any impact on Covid-19 cases, there are likely to be anecdotal reports of some people who were at the festival among those who test positive in the days following. Cornwall Council’s public health team will be closely monitoring the data in the coming weeks, as will we."