Oktoberfest and disease?
My wife and I get German news since we live here. Surprisingly there have been reports about Covid, sanitation, and risks during this massive party. Some one printed a story about dish sanitation with concerns that they use cold water for dish washing. Have fore years but all use a chlorine rinse. Saves a huge amount of energy when each tent is cooking for around 7,000 people for 12 hours a day.
Now this year the crowds at the event or in the tents have not been as large as in 2019, last one pre Covid. There is a combination of bad weather and some people have stayed away because of the worry of infection. Every year there is what people call the Oktoberfest Grippe, flu that last about a week longer than the event. Surprise. Put thousands of people in a closed environment, singing and dancing and drinking and ...
The Covid numbers are up from the start fo the event. They are only about 50% higher than the country as a whole. It will be interesting to see what the numbers show by a week after when both types of plague start to decline. Also in the mix will be people who do get Covid but won't report because it will be just like the regular flu to them.
What could have both helped reduce the spread, or increased the spread is the rain. Looks like only 2 days out of the 17 this year will be sunny. Sunny puts more people, during the day in the outdoor seating. It also means more people coming to the event.
I'm hoping the weather report is correct and we get some sun on the last day so I can go to the Oide Wiesen, old style, section and get some pictures of classic farm vehicles and the like.
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