The World Health Organization has said it was concerned about the easing of COVID-19 restrictions by nations hosting Euro 2020 parties, noting that some were already seeing cases on the rise.
“WHO is concerned about easing restrictions in some of the host countries,” Robb Butler, executive director of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, said in an email to the agency. of AFP news.
“Some of the stadiums hosting the tournament are now increasing the number of spectators allowed,” Butler said.
The UN health agency did not name any cities, but the UK announced on Tuesday that more than 60,000 spectators will have permission at London’s Wembley Stadium for the semi-finals and final of the tournament. Originally, it was intended to limit the crowd to 40,000 people, with a 50% capacity.
The new levels mean that the stadium will have a capacity of 75% for the last three matches, which will conclude with the final on July 11th.
All ticket holders must have a negative COVID-19 test or a complete vaccination test: two doses received 14 days prior to installation.
Germany and Italy raise concerns
The announcement came after Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi called for the transfer of the England final due to the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged UEFA to act responsibly on plans to hold the final in London due to security concerns about the spread of the virus there.
The European Union’s top health legislator echoed the chancellor’s comments.
“Our health is a priority. The broadcast of the Delta variant means that 40,000 spectators can watch the final match at London Stadium, ”said Peter Liese.
UEFA said it had “no plans” to change venue for the semi-finals and finals.
“UEFA, the English FA and the English authorities are working closely together to host the EURO semi-finals and final at Wembley and there are no plans to change the location of these games,” a UEFA spokesman said in a statement to Reuters news agency on Tuesday.
UEFA has also held talks with the UK government to ease virus-related travel restrictions and allow up to 2,500 VIPs to attend the final.
COVID infections increase
In some “host cities, COVID-19 cases are already on the rise in the area where the matches will be held,” WHO Butler said.
In areas where infection rates are rising, WHO Europe called on interested cities to act quickly.
“Learning from experience, we need to act quickly on signs that show growing cases.
“Extension of testing and sequencing; intensify contact tracking; and build a very high vaccine intake among the vulnerable and those most at risk, ”he added.
In Denmark, 29 cases related to the Euro 2020 Games taking place in Copenhagen have been detected.
Reported infections involved people who were already sick during the game or who were infected during the game, said Anette Lykke Petri, a health official.
“In theory, there could be more people infected,” he added.
In Denmark, the capacity of the public allowed has also increased recently, from 16,000 to 25,000. The highest number was first applied to last Thursday’s match between Denmark and Belgium.
In Budapest, the games at the Puskas Arena, which has a capacity of 68,000, have been played at a full stadium.
UEFA had also eliminated two cities, Dublin and Bilbao, from hosting games in the tournament because the permitted capacities were too low.
Among host cities, St. Petersburg of Russia, in particular, has reported an increase in the number of cases in recent days.
Meanwhile, the trend has been downward in Seville and Rome, Italian authorities say no cases of competition-related COVID-19 have been detected.
Although the situation across Europe has improved in the last two months, the WHO has nevertheless urged continued caution.
“Although we have come a long way, we have not reached far enough,” warned Hans Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe, in early June.
Vaccine uptake was still too low to protect the region from a resurgence, he said.