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The World Health Organization has said it is concerned that countries hosting Euro 2020 matches are easing COVID-19 restrictions, and has warned that some are already seeing rising cases.
“The WHO is concerned about easing restrictions in some recipient countries,” Robb Butler, executive director of the WHO’s European Regional Office, said in an email to the AFP news agency.
“Some stadiums hosting the tournament are increasing the number of spectators allowed,” Butler said.
The UN health agency did not specify a city, but the UK announced on Tuesday that it would accept more than 60,000 spectators at Wembley Stadium in London for the semi-finals and final of the tournament. Originally, the crowd was meant to be limited to 40,000, with a capacity of about 50 percent.
The new levels mean that the stadium will have a capacity of 75 percent for the last three games, which will end with the final on July 11th.
All cardholders must have a negative COVID-19 test or a full vaccine certificate – two doses received 14 days prior to installation.
Germany and Italy are raising concerns
The announcement came after Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi called for the final to be moved from England because COVID-19 cases had risen in the country.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on UEFA to act responsibly in the face of plans to hold the final in London due to security concerns over the spread of the virus there.
The European Union’s general parliamentarian on health issues echoed the chancellor’s comments.
“Our health is a priority. The expansion of the Delta variant makes it impossible for 40,000 spectators to watch the final match at London Stadium, ”said Peter Lies.
UEFA has said it has no “plans” to change places for the finals and finals.
“UEFA, the FA and England have been working closely together to organize the EURO semi-finals and final at Wembley and there are no plans to change the venue for these games,” a UEFA spokesman told Reuters. news agency on Tuesday.
UEFA has also been in talks with the UK government to alleviate virus-related travel restrictions, allowing up to 2,500 VIPs to reach the final.
England fans inside Wembley Stadium before the match between England and the Czech Republic [Neil Hall/Pool via Reuters]KOVID increases infections
In some “host cities, COVID-19 cases are on the rise in the area where matches will already be held,” WHO Butler said.
In areas where infection rates are rising, the WHO has called on cities concerned to act quickly in Europe.
“Learning from experience, we need to act quickly on signs that show more and more cases.
“Expanding testing and sequencing; increasing the tracing of contacts; and to build the vaccine very quickly among the weakest and most at risk, ”he added.
In Denmark, 29 cases have been detected in connection with the Euro 2020 games being held in Copenhagen.
The reported infections were people who were ill during the game or infected in the game, said health official Anette Lykke Petri.
“Theoretically, there could be more infected people,” he added.
In Denmark, the allowable audience content has also increased from 25,000 to 16,000 recently. The highest number was asked for the first time last Thursday for the match between Denmark and Belgium.
In Budapest, 68,000-capacity Puskas Arena matches were played throughout the stadium.
UEFA also removed two cities, Dublin and Bilbao, from hosting the championship games because the capacity allowed was too small.
Among the host cities, especially, St. Petersburg in Russia has reported an increase in the number of cases in recent days.
Meanwhile, there has been a downward trend in Spanish Seville and Rome, with Italian authorities ensuring that no COVID-19 cases related to the competition have been detected.
Although the situation across Europe has improved in the last two months, the WHO has called for caution.
“Although we have come a long way, we have not come far enough,” WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge warned in early June.
He said vaccination was low to protect the region from revitalization.
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