Eurovision 2021: Malta's Destiny and Romania's Roxen test negative for COVID-19
Photos: EBU / Andres Putting / Thomas Hannes

They previously entered quarantine following a nearby positive COVID-19 case. But now, the acts from Malta and Romania have been given the all clear.

Destiny, Roxen and their respective delegations have all tested negative for COVID-19 and will continue to attend rehearsals inside the Rotterdam Ahoy.

The EBU also provided an update about the Polish and Icelandic delegations.

Update on Poland, Iceland, Romania and Malta at Eurovision 2021

Destiny and Roxen will both perform in today’s semi-final one jury show as initially planned.

Elsewhere, the remaining members of the Polish delegation have tested negative for COVID-19, but as a precaution will remain in quarantine until Wednesday. They will all be retested ahead of the semi-final two jury show. If all tests prove negative, Rafal and his team will be allowed to attend the Rotterdam Ahoy for the upcoming rehearsals and live show.

Meanwhile, Team Iceland are still awaiting the results of their COVID-19 tests. Should all tests return negative, the Icelandic delegation will likely also be allowed to attend Wednesday’s rehearsals.

Full statement from the EBU:

“Following the positive COVID-19 test in the Polish delegation on Saturday 15 May all other members of the delegation undertook a PCR test, in accordance with the health and safety protocol of the Eurovision Song Contest 2021, and we’re pleased to report that all these PCR tests returned negative results.

As a precaution the Polish delegation will remain in quarantine until being retested ahead of dress rehearsals for Semi Final 2, in which Poland perform, on Wednesday.

Following a positive COVID-19 test within the Icelandic delegation yesterday (Sunday 16 May), they too have had PCR tests for which we are awaiting the results today and will remain in quarantine. They will also have further testing ahead of the same dress rehearsals in which they are also due to perform.

All accredited individuals, including artists, have to test negative for COVID-19 before they can re-join the production.

The delegations from Malta and Romania have not tested positive for COVID-19 and are not quarantining but, due to the fact they are staying in the same hotel as Poland and Iceland, did not take part in the Turquoise Carpet event and were also PCR tested as a safety precaution.

Both these delegations will be welcomed to the arena today for rehearsals following negative results from the routine test this morning, as is normal procedure.

Throughout the whole process, all decisions taken by the organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest are based on the expert medical advice of the event’s medical team and the Erasmus Medical Centre.”

Eurovision 2021: COVID-19 precautions

After positive COVID-19 cases in their delegations, the acts from Poland and Iceland were forced to self-isolate in their hotels. The Maltese and Romanian teams also entered quarantine as they are currently residing in the same hotel as the positive cases. Destiny, Roxen, Rafal and Daði og Gagnamagnið all missed out on Sunday’s Eurovision 2021 opening ceremony Moroccanoil Turquoise Carpet event.

The Eurovision 2021 organisers take COVID-19 very seriously and have a number of contingency plans in place to ensure the event runs safely and smoothly.

All of the Eurovision 2021 competing acts recorded a live-on-tape backup performance prior to travelling to Rotterdam. These videos were to be used in the event of a team member falling ill or being unable to travel in light of coronavirus restrictions. Thus far, the only act to have confirmed the use of their live-on-tape performance is Australia’s Montaigne.

However, the live-on-tape backups are not the only option according to Sweden’s Aftonbladet. Following the news of Poland’s positive case, the Swedish newspaper reported that the EBU would instead broadcast footage from Rafal’s second rehearsal of “The Ride” rather than the original live-on-tape backup. The EBU is yet to officially confirm, but this may be an option in the event Poland and Iceland are unable to attend the shows on Wednesday and Thursday.

We anticipate further news about the Icelandic delegation very soon.

All of us at wiwibloggs wish good health to all of the acts competing at Eurovision 2021 during their stay in Rotterdam and beyond. 

Read more Eurovision 2021 news here

33 Comments
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Denis
Denis
2 years ago

What has your sexuality to do with anything?

Ben
Ben
2 years ago
Reply to  Denis

Gay people are more stylish.

Alex
Alex
2 years ago

WIWI will you report about Peacock US showing the shows LIVE?

The truth
The truth
2 years ago

Just a curiosity and nothing to do with this post. Malta has retained first place in the LGBTIQ+ rights index for the sixth year running. It will host the EUROPride 2023 event. Destiny in the meantime has been awarded the OUTTV’s OutMusic award. It seems Malta is at the forefront amongst European nations in this area. Bravo Malta and Destiny.

Errret
Errret
2 years ago

It would have been a reasonable idea to put delegations in the same semi in the same hltel in my opinion.

dygh
dygh
2 years ago
Reply to  Errret

I’d rather have 2 live-on-tape performances each semi than 4 in 1. Also, imagine the greenroom.

Sot
Sot
2 years ago

That’s fantastic news!

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago

This news is especially irrelevant to the article, but I just have to spread it. Thanks for NBC’s deal with the American song contest, they’re going to stream all three Eurovision shows on their streaming service Peacock, so American euro fans , we don’t have to get VPN blockers or watch it illegally. It’s finally available to us to watch.

Last edited 2 years ago by BadWoolfGirl
Seth
Seth
2 years ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

This is AWESOME. Thanks for sharing!

BadWoolfGirl
BadWoolfGirl
2 years ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

You’re welcome. I was wishing for a Way for American fans to watch eurovision and this unexpected news came true. I should warn you that if you wanna watch eurovision on Peacock that there might be ads in it because if you have it on the free ad-supported tier, and I don’t know if they’re going to have commentary, likely probably not because of how recent this news is. I might still have an iPlayer out just to compare how Eurovision Is playing out compared to peacock, but yes this is definitely a major step in the right direction. I’m… Read more »

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago
Reply to  BadWoolfGirl

NBC are associate members of the EBU, just like SBS. If Australia can actually send a song to Rotterdam, there’s no reason why NBC can’t be allowed to at least stream the contest. I’m happy for you.

Euro Fan
Euro Fan
2 years ago

Great news for Malta and Romania! Fingers crossed for Iceland and Poland!

Colin
Colin
2 years ago

Destiny, you are too good to be true!
Roxen, you are not alone!
Rafal, go for the ride of your life!
Dadi and Gagnamagnid, you have the good thing going!

All the best to everyone! Hope to hear you all live at the semi. 🙂

shin
shin
2 years ago

yaaaaayyyy!! great news to end my day with :)!!

shin
shin
2 years ago
Reply to  shin

actually not, my exam schedule just came, imma go cry now T_T

Samo
Samo
2 years ago

Do I understand it right that the positive tests in Polish and Icelandic delegations were just antigen (rapid) tests, not PCR? Or did both of those delegations have someone test positive with PCR?

I’m asking because antigen tests are have a very high false positive rates (and are generally unreliable), so I am a bit surprised they are pulling people out of rehearsals / events just based on those. I would expect that they reconfirm it with PCR.

Ángel NF
Ángel NF
2 years ago
Reply to  Samo

That’s why is the antigen tests positive, then they all get quarantined and tested with a PCR to see of it’s a real possitive or not. They cannot take any risks.

Escfan
Escfan
2 years ago
Reply to  Samo

Actually, there are really small chances(around 0.5%) to get a false positive result with an antigen test. The chances are higher to get a false negative, but not a false positive.

Last edited 2 years ago by Escfan
Kristian
Kristian
2 years ago
Reply to  Escfan

Escfan is right. The chances of a false positive with RAT is lower than with a PCR test .

Samo
Samo
2 years ago
Reply to  Escfan

I’ve saw number around 1%. But even with 0,5% that means 1 positive results per 200 tests performed on negative folks. When you take into the account how many people are tested and how often, this is guaranteed to result in many false positive results. Each country is allowed 6 performers, that is 234 people (not counting other members of delegations) and they are tested every few days. Then there’s broadcaster’s staff, journalist, etc. This is bound to bring many false positive tests and if they pull out several delegations just because someone in a hotel tested positive with AG,… Read more »

Erik
Erik
2 years ago
Reply to  Samo

Safety first

Up yours eurovision
Up yours eurovision
2 years ago

I hope acts get it

...
...
2 years ago

Good news!

Jimmy Smit
2 years ago

Very special indeed 🙂

Cozmin COZMA
Cozmin COZMA
2 years ago

God bless them!
Really happy to see Destiny again on the stage and for Roxen to have the opportunity to improve …… just because she deserve the best!

Ben
Ben
2 years ago
Reply to  Cozmin COZMA

You mean Jon Ola Sand bless them.

Jimmy Smit
2 years ago

Hallelujah! Amen to the elves!!

Jimmy Smit
2 years ago
Reply to  Jimmy Smit

The semi final is dawning!

ROXELANA
ROXELANA
2 years ago
Reply to  Jimmy Smit

The storm’s relentless, but everybody knows, everybody knows we’re born to the fight.

Jimmy Smit
2 years ago
Reply to  Jimmy Smit

“Every day I will a new way to…think about things” 🙂

Last edited 2 years ago by Jimmy Smit
Jimmy Smit
2 years ago
Reply to  Jimmy Smit

We’ve got a good thing going! 😀

Last edited 2 years ago by Jimmy Smit
Erik
Erik
2 years ago
Reply to  Jimmy Smit

I hear them calling me, I hear them whispering. They’re singing: “Now we are coming home”

Eddy
Eddy
2 years ago

Thank god for these two! All deserve the chance to live their dreams but I am particularly happy for these two young talents. You go girls!