Taylor Swift is here, along with fall viruses. How to stay ‘safe and sound’
Global News
As Taylor Swift's show kicks off in Toronto, health experts warn that large crowds and public transit could increase the spread of respiratory illnesses like the flu.
The day has finally arrived for excited Swifties in Canada, as Taylor Swift kicks off her highly-anticipated Toronto concert Thursday evening for her Eras Tour at the Rogers Centre.
While the city’s downtown and public transit are set to be flooded with fans eager to catch the superstar, health experts are urging concertgoers to stay vigilant.
With cold and flu season in full swing, along with recent increases in RSV, COVID-19 and walking pneumonia, they warn that packed venues and crowded trains could turn into hot spots for spreading germs.
“There aren’t many things in Toronto that the Taylor Swift concert is not affecting, and transmission of disease is no exception,” explained Dr. Barry Pakes, a public health physician and associate professor at the University of Toronto’s Department of Family and Community Medicine.
“As we saw during COVID, the first thing to go was mass gatherings and the last thing to come back were massive gatherings. And this Taylor Swift concert is as massive of a gathering as we can get.”
Toronto is preparing for an influx of hundreds of thousands of Taylor Swift fans as the pop superstar kicks off her six sold-out concerts. Each show is expected to draw a crowd of 50,000 to 60,000 fans.
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