Musicians Can Stand Side by Side With No COVID-19 Worries, New Study

File photo of Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: AFP / HKPO / EyePress
File photo of Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: AFP / HKPO / EyePress
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Musicians Can Stand Side by Side With No COVID-19 Worries, New Study

File photo of Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: AFP / HKPO / EyePress
File photo of Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Photo: AFP / HKPO / EyePress

A new study suggests that orchestra players and chorus members can stand a little closer to each other with no safety concerns.

According to the German News Agency, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra announced that a study in which it participated with researchers from the university hospitals in Erlangen and Munich in southern Germany, found that musicians should keep a significant distance while standing face to face.

Prof. Matthias Echternach of Munich's university hospital explained that "given that aerosols projected by musicians travel less than one meter on both sides, they can keep a safe distance of 1.5 meter instead of the currently adopted two meters as long as they are not standing face to face."

The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra published the results of a similar study involving chorus members, saying they can stand at a closer distance side by side, but they should maintain a remarkable distance with the next row.

In order to test how wind instrument sprays out aerosols, the researchers used the main component of e-cigarettes usually exhaled to determine the spread of emissions.

The results showed a significant difference between instruments: for example, aerosols emitted by a flute player are transmitted to many more individuals than aerosols blown by a trumpet of clarinet player. The smoke cloud of the latter traveled a distance of 0.9 meter, while the smoke emitted by the flute traveled around two meters.

"These results showed that the two-meter distance formerly considered safe is insufficient, and instruments players should keep a distance of three meters to ensure their safety," the researchers explained.



Coffee Overtaking Tea Culture in the UK

“Fancy a brew?” is no longer as familiar as it once were as coffee has overtaken tea in the UK (Getty)
“Fancy a brew?” is no longer as familiar as it once were as coffee has overtaken tea in the UK (Getty)
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Coffee Overtaking Tea Culture in the UK

“Fancy a brew?” is no longer as familiar as it once were as coffee has overtaken tea in the UK (Getty)
“Fancy a brew?” is no longer as familiar as it once were as coffee has overtaken tea in the UK (Getty)

Discover the hidden gem of the UK's coffee culture, where vibrant independent cafes outshine the chains, offering a unique blend of flavors and atmospheres.

“Fancy a brew?” “I'll put the kettle on then.” Hearing those words are no longer as familiar as it once were as coffee has overtaken tea in the UK, The Daily Express newspaper reported on Monday.

It said grabbing a coffee either on the go or at a café is as part of British culture these days as it is in Italy.

But while every person has its favorite chain, be it Pret, Starbucks, Costa or Cafe Nero, nothing beats finding a decent independent coffee shop one can call home especially when it can seem high streets are dominated by the same chains.

So with the demand for coffee only growing, where is the best spot in the UK to find an independent coffee shop?

A study by Reviva Coffee reveals the UK city that is the hidden gem when it comes to thriving coffee culture.

And it probably isn't where you'd expect. In fact this county is synonymous with tea. Yorkshire Tea, to be precise.

However the study discovered the best UK city to find independent coffee shops is in the Yorkshire city of Leeds. It has a staggering 584 coffee shops, of which 86.3% are independent, and just under 14% are chains.

Placing second is Edinburgh. Whether you’re a coffee connoisseur or just needing a cosy pit stop, Edinburgh has you covered with its outstanding coffee scene with 560 shops, 85% of which are independents.

In third for best UK cities for independent coffee shops is Bristol which has 347 coffee shops, 86.3% of which are independent.