Euro 2020 linked to almost 2,000 Scottish COVID-19 cases – The Athletic

What do these numbers mean?

The COVID-19 cases included in the report were tagged if the person had attended a Euro 2020 organised event between June 11-28. Such information was given to the contact tracing system Test and Protect by patients with COVID-19.

This included matches at Wembley Stadium or Hampden Park, as well as the official Euro 2020 fan zone at Glasgow Green.

Informal gatherings to watch a match at a pub or party were also included.

Attendance at hospitality venues was the most frequently reported tag, representing 34 per cent of all cases associated with the tournament.

The report said: PHS is working with Test and Protect and NHS boards to ensure that all public health actions are taken in the close contacts of these Euro 2020 cases as part of the 32,539 cases that were reported to the Test and Protect case management system during this period.

Nicola Sturgeon was forced to deny that her government had taken a softly, softly approach to fans travelling to London for the match against England.

Around 20,000 supporters headed to London for the match, which ended goalless.

Sturgeon said on Tuesday: We were very explicit to fans who did not have a ticket for Wembley not to travel.

She also urged people to abide by social distancing regulations while watching live sport this summer.

If you are meeting people in doors please stick to the limits and please open the windows and maximise ventilation, she said.

That applies if you are watching football and now with Wimbledon under way, to the tennis.

Scotland's health secretary Humza Yousaf said: We previously advised that fans should not have been travelling to London without tickets or unless they had somewhere safe to watch the match.

Travel was not banned and we are not able to stop people from travelling if they decide to do so.

We can see from these figures that there is an association with some the cases weve seen in recent days and the Euros. This is likely to include people who were on coach trips to and from London.

The issue of concern here is people coming together in enclosed public spaces whether thats on coaches or in a private house to watch matches or to gather for any other activity. Thats riskier than gathering with people outdoors.

Anyone planning to gather indoors to watch a match should remember the household limits and take a rapid lateral flow test.

We all have a vested interest in getting through the next few weeks as safely as possible because the end point is in sight as a result of the vaccine.

(Photo: Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

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Euro 2020 linked to almost 2,000 Scottish COVID-19 cases - The Athletic