Sports: Coronavirus

(asked on 24th June 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on covid-19 case rates of spectators at (a) school sports days and (b) Euro 2021 football matches held at Wembley Stadium.


Answered by
Nigel Huddleston Portrait
Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
This question was answered on 5th July 2021

In order to gain entry to the EURO 2020 football matches held at Wembley stadium, all attendees must either provide proof of a negative NHS Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test taken within 48 hours of the time the stadium gates open; OR proof of two vaccinations with the second vaccination being given at least two weeks prior to entry of the event via the NHS App; OR have natural immunity, based upon a positive PCR test within 180 days of the event.

In addition to existing entry requirements, the FA will be conducting additional spot checks on ticket holders for the remaining matches at Wembley, and asking for additional LFD tests where necessary.

Public safety is our main priority, and we continue to work closely with the local authorities, DHSC, and PHE to closely monitor attendees; this includes monitoring any potential prevalence of COVID-19 as a result of the events. Where cases have been identified across Events Research Programme pilot events, public health teams have swiftly followed up on them. We are unable to comment on individual cases.

The Events Research Programme report was published on Friday 25 June and can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/events-research-programme-phase-i-findings

In respect of school sports, as per our response to PQ21844, schools that are planning sports days this term should complete thorough risk assessments and ensure that they are run in line with their system of controls. These are the actions that have been in place since the autumn term and that all schools must take to reduce risks and create an inherently safer environment. The system of controls are set out in the Department’s guidance to schools, available to view here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/actions-for-schools-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/schools-coronavirus-covid-19-operational-guidance#system-of-controls (opens in a new tab).

The Department for Education has worked closely with the Department of Health and Social Care and Public Health England (PHE) to develop guidance for schools. We work with PHE to continually review the measures, which are informed by the latest scientific evidence and advice, and update the guidance accordingly.

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