Full-capacity Premier League crowds should not go ahead and doing so based on flawed research from pilot events “verges on the unethical”, a virologist has said.
Deenan Pillay, a virology professor at University College London and Independent Sage member, said the events research programme had given the Government “an excuse for opening things up”.
He called for Covid infection data from the chaotic Euro 2020 final to be released “as soon as possible” before the Premier League restarts.
The Government is adamant the Premier League should start next month with capacity crowds but it is increasingly likely that fans will have to show “vaccine passports” to get in to stadiums.
The league is working on its own system of Covid certification and also discussing safety measures such as one-way systems and staggered entry times.
A restart with full crowds before the adult population is fully vaccinated is a “risk” and “fraught with difficulties” due to the high infection rates, Professor Pillay said.
He recommended staggered entry times to stop public transport overcrowding, and the wearing of face masks.
Professor Pillay also said that clubs should look at safety measures for eating and drinking in enclosed spaces.
“Football clubs obviously want to get their money back from getting bums back on seats but it’s the responsibility of clubs to make their environment as safe as possible – so that’s also an important lesson from the Euro final,” he said.
So far, data have only been released from the first stage of the government events pilot, which included the Brit Awards and the FA cup semi-finals and final, with just 28 Covid cases over nine events.
But the Government has acknowledged a low take-up of postevent Covid PCR tests.
Professor Pillay described the first phase results as “next to useless”, adding: “I can understand why the Government wants to open things up… but to hide behind research in this way I think verges on the unethical.”
A government source hit back at his claims, saying the first phase of the pilot looked at many other factors including CO2 ventilation and the behaviour and movement of people at the events.
A government spokesman said: “Public safety is our absolute priority – we have published guidance for events on how to minimise risk, drawn from the events research programme.”
He said officials were continuing to engage with the Premier League to ensure matches with full crowds could take place safely this autumn.
More than 60,000 attended the Euro 2020 final at Wembley but thousands more stormed the stadium without tickets. Many fans have claimed they caught Covid at the game.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3kUbbLP
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