With the increase in cases of COVID-19 and its Omicron variant, bands are using different methods to identify the virus so that the cancellation of their shows is not necessary once again.
Metallica and Tool of the virus in members of their team, entourage, or anyone else backstage at their most recent performances.
The company responsible for offering this service is Bio Detection K9 , from Ohio, in the United States. The trained dogs have also been used to detect the virus at NASCAR events and at Miami Heat basketball games.
In an interview with Rolling Stone , Bio Detection K9 president Jerry Johnson said (via Louder Sound ): “People say, ‘What is that dog doing?’ They’re surprised and pessimistic, but if you understand the instincts of a dog’s behavior, it makes a lot of sense. Dogs sniff each other to see if the other dog has a virus. We’re training them to look for something they’re interested in anyway.”
Regarding the efficiency of sniffer dogs, Bio Detection K9 reports that the dogs were 98 to 99% accurate in identifying carriers in validation studies. The company even stated that its dogs have already proven more effective than PCR tests in detecting asymptomatic infections.
The test is simple: the show organizers set up a queue with social distancing, and each member removes their mask to be sniffed by the dogs. These dogs are trained to sit in front of anyone they identify as testing positive for COVID-19.
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