Packed UK concerts amid rising Covid-19 cases shock social media

Welsh band Stereophonics played to packed audiences in Manchester and Cardiff for three nights last week. (Stereophonics Twitter pic)

PETALING JAYA: Pictures of packed concerts in the United Kingdom amid the increasing number of Covid-19 cases and deaths there have shocked social media users in China, reports the South China Morning Post.

The images from Welsh band Stereophonics’ performances in Manchester on March 13 and in Cardiff last weekend showed tens of thousands in attendance.

To date, nearly 2,000 people in the UK have tested positive for Covid-19 with 60 deaths recorded, the report said.

Elsewhere, concerts in China and the rest of Asia have been cancelled for months, while large-scale festivals like Coachella in United States have also been postponed.

“I have no words, I wish them well,” SCMP quoted a Weibo user as describing a video of Stereophonics’ concert in Cardiff.

“The UK is going to catch up with Italy in no time,” said another, with one more Weibo user adding: “Don’t ask for China’s help when things start to get bad. You got yourself into this mess.”

Some fans of Stereophonics also criticised the band for proceeding with the concerts.

“I love Stereophonics but this is just irresponsible” said one user.

The band, however, has defended its action, saying the UK government’s position was that there was no need to ban large public gatherings at the moment.

“Acting on this guidance, we continued with the last three shows of our UK tour on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as did many other events across the entertainment industry,” said the band in a statement.

Separately, another singer, Lewis Capaldi, has also been criticised for going ahead with a live show in Aberdeen, Scotland, last Sunday. - FMT