The article reflects on the 2020 Cheltenham Festival, highlighting the contrast between typical excitement and growing anxiety over a new virus. Despite health precautions like hand sanitization stations, attendees quickly reverted to pre-pandemic behaviors, making the festival a potential superspreader event amid the increasing COVID-19 cases. The author recounts feeling uneasy and ultimately became ill shortly after attending. This event, attended by over 250,000 people, is now seen as a critical moment in the early days of the pandemic, illustrating the consequences of ignoring emerging health threats.
‘It is clear now, nobody should have been there.’
‘By Ladies Day on Wednesday, the only facemask to be seen was one worn by a fashion designer.’
‘I still wonder if the 2020 Cheltenham Roar was the viral bomb we never realised was going off.’
‘Ireland had just confirmed its first Covid death.’
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