One in 50 Berlinale Covid tests reported as positive

The Berlinale, which officially began on Thursday (February 10), has confirmed 54 positive Covid cases from the festival’s testing system, out of around 2,700 tests carried out as of Saturday evening (February 12).

This figure includes eight positive cases from among the film teams.

Testing buses have been set up across the festival’s sites, where point-of-care antigen tests have been available for both accredited guests and audience members.

A statement from the festival said: “In order to stop possible chains of infections we are evaluating every case and situation thoroughly, tracking all contacts and identifying possible risk situations. We are still in pandemic times and obviously positive tests are still a reality in our daily lives.”

Screen is also aware of festival delegates who have tested positive outside of the festival testing system. 

The festival has put in place stringent testing measures for members of the press, owing to press having what the festival terms as “a higher frequency of movement”.

Accredited press must present proof of a negative antigen test from within the previous 24 hours in order to enter press screenings, press conferences, press lines, the Press Centre, interview spaces and other press areas, regardless of vaccination status.

Events that are explicitly not for press are running in-line with Germany’s 2G rule, which means they are restricted to attendees who are vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19. The wearing of a FFP2 mask is compulsory within all festival premises.

The Potsdamer Platz area of Berlin, the hub of the Berlinale, was yesterday hit by a sizable protest, unrelated to the festival, against the country’s Covid regulations.

The festival runs until February 16. 

• Berlin 2022: Screen’s dailies