Contributions of the EURO 2020 football championship events to a third wave of SARS-CoV-2 in Scotland, 11 June to 7 July 2021

Euro Surveill. 2021 Aug;26(31):2100707. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2021.26.31.2100707.

Abstract

Public Health Scotland used Scottish national contact tracing data to estimate the European football championship (EURO 2020) contributions to a third wave of SARS-CoV-2 infections. From 11 June to 7 July 2021, 2,632 (4%) of 63,874 SARS-CoV-2 cases self-reported attending a EURO 2020 event; 90% were male, of whom 73% were 20-39-year-olds. Most cases attended unofficial gatherings and averaged more contacts than the general population. Targeted guidance on celebrating safely in closed spaces is key.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; coronavirus; mass gatherings; sporting events, public health response; surveillance.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Contact Tracing
  • Humans
  • Male
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Scotland / epidemiology
  • Soccer*