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AIST:Research Highlights, Investigation and Risk Assessment of COVID-19 Prevention Measures at Large-Scale Events

Research Laboratory for COVID-19 Infection Risk Assessment

Investigation and Risk Assessment of COVID-19
Prevention Measures at Large-Scale Events

YASUTAKA Tetsuo, ONISHI Masaki, NAITO Wataru, BANDO Yoshiaki
Research Laboratory for COVID-19 Infection Risk Assessment

Released: May 11, 2021 – March 28, 2022

Cooperating with the government and various organizations to conduct surveys and risk assessments for infection-preventive measures at large-scale events

Cooperating with the Office for COVID-19 and Other Emerging Infectious Disease Control, Cabinet Secretariat, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan Football Association (JFA), the Japan Professional Football League (J. League), the Japan Professional Basketball League (B. League), and their affiliated clubs and concert groups, we have conducted surveys and risk assessments for preventing infection at more than 45 events, including with government-initiated vaccine testing packages.

Camera shooting status (left) and mask wearing rate detected by AI image recognition technology (right)

Evaluating of infection risk with advanced technology

As COVID-19 infections continue to occur, it is important to understand the circumstances that pose a risk of it spreading for safely holding events, and there is social interest in this topic as well. This is especially relevant for events held at large facilities such as stadiums since many spectators gather together at one time. The number of entrants, whether or not masks are worn, the degree of congestion, and differences in support methods affect the spread of infection. To date, we have conducted surveys to prevent COVID-19 infection at more than 45 events and club houses, etc., including with government-initiated vaccine testing packages, in cooperation with the Japan Professional Football League (J. League), the Nippon Professional Baseball Organization, the Japan Professional Basketball League (B. League), concert organizations, Japan Football Association, the Office for COVID-19 and Other Emerging Infectious Disease Control, Cabinet Secretariat, and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, etc.

Experimental methods and results for evaluating the risk of COVID-19 infection

In the survey, AI was used to evaluate the rate of people wearing masks while watching the game, microphone arrays were used to evaluate vocal support, people-flow analysis was performed using remote sensing technology with laser light (LIDAR), and CO₂ concentrations were measured in spectator seats and concourses. In addition to evaluating how well spectators were taking measures against infection and observing how crowded they were, we also conducted a risk assessment in the stadium. It was confirmed that there was a high rate of people wearing masks during matches in spite of the fact that more people were getting vaccinated and emergency declarations were lifted. It was also confirmed that the percentage of time large groups spent cheering was small, and that the average CO₂ concentration in the audience seats in the outdoor stadium was 1,000 ppm or less.

Returning to daily life while minimizing the risk of COVID-19 infection

Currently, large-scale events are subject to various restrictions such as a prohibition of speaking out loud. With the aim of returning to daily life, we will work with governments and various organizations to assess the risks and effectiveness of measures for COVID-19 infection, such as revising guidance on the risks and countermeasures for COVID-19 infection when watching events at large-scale stadiums.

Contact for inquiries related to this theme

Resource Geochemistry Research Group, Research Institute for Geo-Resources and Environment

YASUTAKA Tetsuo, Group Leader

AIST Tsukuba Central 7, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8567 Japan

E-mail: M-res-geo-Toiawase-ml*aist.go.jp (Please convert "*" to "@".)

Web: https://unit.aist.go.jp/georesenv/index_en.html

Social Intelligence Research Team, Artificial Intelligence Research Center

ONISHI Masaki, Team Leader

2-3-26 Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064 Japan

E-mail: airc-info-ml*aist.go.jp (Please convert "*" to "@".)

Web: https://www.airc.aist.go.jp/en/

Risk Assessment Strategy Group, Research Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability

NAITO Wataru, Group Leader

16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569 Japan

E-mail: webmaster_riss-ml*aist.go.jp (Please convert "*" to "@".)

Web: https://riss.aist.go.jp/en/

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