The Nordic Music Festival which is scheduled to start on Thursday 30th in Porto will be postponed. The subject of controversy is the standards imposed by the Directorate General of Health.

The Nordic Music Festival organization was informed yesterday by the DGS of three basic rules for holding the event: the capacity must be reduced to 65%, a rule accepted by the organization; the use of the mask during the event, a standard that was also accepted; And the third criterion that requires all participants to be tested, regardless of whether or not they have a digital vaccination certificate.

In view of this rule, the organization of the event had to postpone it. “Although there is no concrete, definitive final opinion as of today, it was actually required by the DG of Democracy – and for the event to happen in the way we know that it would make sense to happen, with the standing of the public – that the entire public would be tested for covid-19, even All those who already have a covid digital certificate. Thus, a three-day permit holder, even with a valid digital certificate, will be required to take a test within the three festival days, ie one test per day,” the organization explains.

Since the event should have started the assembly phase today, it was decided to postpone it indefinitely, as it is said that it is logistically impossible to test all participants every day. “Under these conditions, it is impractical to proceed with the realization of the festival in the manner required by the DGD. It is not reasonable to require the public who already has a digital certificate, in addition to the amount paid for the ticket, must submit a test at the entrance to the building and be assured of payment, given Because antigen testing that is done in pharmacies is now paid for who already has the digital certificate,” says the organization.

Jorge Veloso, festival director, wonders why this is an exclusive norm of culture, because “in football and in restaurants, people with a certificate are exempt from the test”.

Exacerbating the uproar, says the person in charge of the Northern Music Festival, “Although Portugal is currently a model in Europe, the vaccination rate is well above average – nearly 85% – and all Portuguese adhere to the show from normal New, we now have clear evidence that the digital vaccination certificate, and the full vaccination involved, do not represent a real added value, that is, in terms of access to major cultural and musical events.”

For festival ticket holders, “All information regarding ticket redemption and exchange will be announced soon on the Northern Music Festival’s official communication channels.”

The organization clarifies that new dates are pending. “At the moment, it is not possible for us to set a date for the festival. This announcement will be suspended and depends on the guidelines and deliberations of the Directorate General of Democracy and Government regarding the new rules to be followed in achieving major and cultural events as in festivals.”