The World Health Organization (WHO) called Thursday for better monitoring of Euro 2020 football matches as Covid cases rise again in Europe, fuelled by the deadly Delta variant that is racing around the globe.
Hundreds of cases have been detected among spectators attending Euro matches taking place across Europe, with carriers of the Delta strain detected in Copenhagen, and infected Scots and Finns returning from London and Saint Petersburg respectively.
Russia posted record virus deaths for the third day running on Thursday, while in Britain — where the Euro semi-final and final take place next week — infections are soaring despite a strong vaccination drive.
“There will be a new wave in the WHO European region unless we remain disciplined,” the UN agency’s Europe director Hans Kluge told a press conference.
He warned that the region had seen a 10 percent rise in cases over the past week, “driven by increased mixing, travel, gatherings and easing of social restrictions”.
Asked about whether the Euro championship was potentially acting as a “super-spreader” event, Kluge replied: “I hope not… but this can’t be excluded.”
