This archive report was first published on 11 July 2021.
As the Euro 2020 football final approaches, British authorities are warning against large gatherings, citing concerns over the highly transmissible Delta coronavirus variant that has fueled outbreaks across the world.
With over 60,000 fans expected to attend the final at Wembley Stadium in London, authorities are particularly concerned about the risk of large gatherings at fan zones and pubs across England.
Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor urged people to remain socially distanced, stating, 'London still remains in a public health crisis.'
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has signaled his intention to ease all remaining restrictions in England on July 19, but infection rates are once again surging across Britain, driven by the Delta variant.
Health experts have expressed concerns that Euro 2020 events could become super-spreaders throughout the tournament, especially in Britain and Russia due to the Delta variant.
Authorities in Denmark, Finland, and Scotland have already reported infections among fans after they attended Euro matches.
As the global death toll from Covid-19 tops four million, the emergence of variants like the Delta variant has accelerated outbreaks even in countries that had successfully weathered the early phases of the pandemic.
Authorities in Australia, South Korea, and other countries are tightening restrictions in response to surging cases, while the rapid spread of the Delta variant is exposing vaccine supply shortages in some of the world's poorest populations.
