A new study found that UK’s participation at Euro 2020 final has lead to “a significant risk to public health”.
Around 300,000 fans attended the eight Euro 2020 football matches played at the stadium in June and July.
Data from NHS Test and Trace showed that more than 9,000 COVID cases linked to Euro 2020 football games.
Data showed 2,295 people in or around Wembley were to have been infectious at the time of the final match.
A further of 3,404 people in and around the ground potentially were infected around the time of the match.
England’s progress to the Euro 2020 final caused a “significant risk to public health across the UK”. Scientists from Public Health England (PHE) has made the study.
The report’s authors concluded that Euro 2020 and England’s progress to the final “generated a significant risk to public health across the UK even when England played overseas”.
“This risk arose not just from individuals attending the event itself. But it included activities undertaken during travel and associated social activities,” they added.
“For the final and semi-final games at Wembley, risk mitigation measures in place were less effective in controlling COVID transmission than was the case for other mass spectator sports events.”
No English Fans in Italy
During the month-long tournament, Italian health chiefs warned fans travelling from England of attending Euros quarter-final against Ukraine amid ongoing coronavirus travel restrictions.
The health officials urged English fans not to put lives at risk in order to travel to Rome.
The Lazio region’s health boss, Alessio D’Amato, said it would be impossible for any fan travelling from England to attend the match.
Italian authorities also imposed strict penalties and possible prosecution on England fans breaking quarantine rules.
All arrivals in Italy from the UK have to quarantine for five days. They also have to take two coronavirus tests under current health measures.
