The effect of restricting and cancelling mass gatherings and sporting events on infectiousdiseases is poorly established and requires further assessment. The best-available evidencesuggests multiple-day events with crowded communal accommodations are most associated with increased risk. Mass gatherings are not homogenous and risk should be assessed on acase-by-case basis. VERDICT: The effect of restricting and cancelling mass gatherings and sporting events on infectiousdiseases is poorly established and requires further assessment. The best-available evidencesuggests multiple-day events with crowded communal accommodations are most associatedwith increased risk. Mass gatherings are not homogenous and risk should be assessed on acase-by-case basis. CONCLUSIONS: - Global data on COVID-19 continue to be collected. They must be actively analysed andused to support real-time decision making. However, until this evidence base grows,current COVID-19 policies may rely on inferences from other scenarios, such asinfluenza pandemics - The effect of restricting and cancelling mass gatherings and sporting events onrespiratory disease rates during pandemics in general is poorly established and requiresfurther assessment - Although limited; the best-available evidence appear to suggest multiple-day events withcrowded communal accommodations are most associated with increased risk oftransmission of respiratory infections - The timing of restrictions on mass gatherings appears important; restrictions closer toepidemic peak may be more effective than restrictions applied further out. - Mass gatherings are not homogenous and risk should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
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