Eurovision Rotterdam 2021 thrown into chaos after positive COVID-19 tests for Netherlands, Iceland - PerthNow

The long-awaited Rotterdam 2021 Eurovision Song Contest has been thrown into chaos after a number of competitors — including the Netherlands 2019 winner — tested positive for COVID-19.

Event organisers issued a statement last night (WA time) revealing Duncan Lawrence tested positive for coronavirus after displaying “mild symptoms”.

The positive test and the mandatory seven-day minimum isolation period means the 2019 winner will not be allowed to perform live in Saturday’s grand final.

Lawrence performed in the first semi-final on Monday, delivering a negative result before the show.

But on Wednesday, when he started showing mild symptoms, he delivered a positive result to a rapid antigen test.

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Executive producer Sietse Bakker said organisers were “disappointed for Duncan” and “wished him a speedy recovery”.

Lawrence wasn’t the only competitor under a cloud as the weekend approached.

A positive result in the Iceland camp meant the country was not allowed to perform overnight — but they were voted into the final anyway.

A recorded rehearsal from Dadi og Gagnamagnid was played after Iceland was aunable to perform in the second semi-final. Credit: Thomas Hanses/EBU

The crowd instead watched a recorded rehearsal from last week of the kitsch act Dadi og Gagnamagnid.

Saturday night’s final will be the first since 2019 after last year’s musical spectacle was cancelled because of the global pandemic.

The final features 20 nations from the two semi-finals along with the so-called big five nations of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, plus host nation the Netherlands.

Up to 3500 fans, who have to show a negative COVID-19 test, are allowed to attend each dress rehearsal, semifinal and final, making the contest one of the biggest live events in Europe since the pandemic upended public life.

The fans are allowed in as part of a Dutch government-sanctioned test event to evaluate how large-scale events can be safely staged as the country gradually emerges from lockdown.

Anyone working within the perimeter of this year’s Eurovision contest must be in possession of a negative COVID-19 test that is less than 48 hours old.

According to organisers, more than 24,400 tests have been conducted, with only 16 returning positive results.

— With Associated Press

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2021-05-20 23:19:00Z
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