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By Marni Rose McFall
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Taylor Swift's recent concerts in Paris have drawn attention not only for their record-breaking attendance but also for concerns about COVID-19 clusters emerging from the events.
The Context
Swift's four concerts at Paris La Défense Arena, which marked the start of the European leg of her Eras tour, attracted 180,000 fans over four days. This turnout set a new record for the venue, which had increased its capacity to 45,000 per show. Ticket prices averaged 180 euros (roughly $196).
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The concerts, held from May 10-13, saw fans from all over the world flock to the French capital at the same time that the country experienced a rise in hospital visits for suspected COVID-19 cases, according to France's national health agency.
The agency's data suggested that visits between May 6-12 rose 20 percent among those under 15-years-old, and 28 percent for those 15 and over.
Meanwhile, scientists have warned of a "summer wave" of infections in the U.S. from a highly transmissible set of omicron subvariants.
There were reports of some cases of COVID-19 from attendees at concerts on Swift's U.S. tour last year, The Los Angeles Times wrote in August, though it was not clear if those cases contributed to any spread significantly more or less than other large social gatherings that summer.
What We Know
Some people on social media who said they had attended the concert have urged fellow attendees to test for COVID-19.
One user who attended the Era's Tour in Paris, posted her positive COVID-19 test on TikTok, writing, "Check if you don't have Covid even tho you don't have any symptoms! A lot of us are sick right now."
Another concertgoer posted on X, formerly Twitter: "back from the Taylor Swift concert with a scratchy throat, runny nose... If the government had maintained health measures, I would not be in this sad state."
Representatives for Taylor Swift declined to comment.
Newsweek has contacted representatives for the Era's Tour venues for comment.
France lifted most of its COVID-19 restrictions in March 2022 and since February 2023 there is no requirement to self-isolate if you test positive. Wearing a mask in a public place is recommended, but not mandatory.
Views
"We know that the most risky places for Covid-19 transmission are poorly ventilated, crowded, indoor places," Christina Pagel, a professor at University College London who focuses on research in health policy, told Newsweek.
"We also know that singing or shouting is more risky as more virus is emitted with each breath. Thus big concerts, particularly in older venues with poorer ventilation, represent a higher risk for catching something."
La Défense Arena's website bills it as Europe's largest indoor venue. It opened in 2017.
What's Next
Swift's tour will continue across Europe throughout May and June, with upcoming performances in Portugal, Spain and the U.K.
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