The Euro 2020 final was a ‘superspreader’ event due to the level of Covid-19 found in or near Wembley Stadium on the day, according to official data published yesterday.
Public Health England said 2,295 people were likely to have been infectious, with a further 3,404 people potentially acquiring Covid at the July 11 final between Italy and England.
The match, with a crowd of around 67,000 inside the stadium, was England’s first final in an international soccer tournament since the country hosted and won the 1966 World Cup.
Jenifer Smith, Public Health England’s deputy medical director, said although the match was ‘unique’, it proved how easily Covid-19 can spread in ‘close contact’.
In a statement, she said: ‘Euro 2020 was a unique occasion and it is unlikely we would see a similar impact on Covid-19 cases from future events.
‘However, the data does show how easily the virus can spread when there is close contact and this should be a warning to us all as we try and return to a cautious normality once again.’
The nail-biting Euro 2020 final saw England lose to Italy in a penalty shoot out, dashing the hopes of England fans wishing to claim their first major championship in 55 years.
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