Euros WERE an own goal in f ight against the virus

Case rate linked to tournament, say scientists

SCOTLAND’S Covid19 case rate is linked to the European Championships, say experts.

Scientists believe the rise in positive cases can be matched to the national team’s participation in the football competition.

And the easing off that Scotland is beginning to witness can be traced back to the team’s elimination after defeat by Croatia in the group stage.

Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease specialist at the University of East Anglia, told the Daily Telegraph: ‘It is difficult to escape the conclusion that celebrations around the Euros have been an important factor in driving up the epidemic in the UK.

‘On the bright side, this may mean less pressure after the Euros are over.

‘Case numbers may be declining in Scotland because the Euros are over and schools have been out for about a week, so maybe we can expect an even more rapid decline.’

Scotland kicked off their campaign against the Czech Republic on June 14, a day when there were only 761 positive tests.

Case numbers skyrocketed past 2,000 on June 22, which was also the date when defeat to Croatia ended Scotland’s campaign.

The figure peaked on July 1 at 4,234, before beginning to tail off.

These trends suggest a time lag of just over a week between fans packing into pubs and homes to watch the matches and surges in Covid cases.

It’s already known that around 1,300 Scotland fans tested positive after travelling to London for the match against England at Wembley stadium on June 18 in defiance of advice.

More than 10,000 Tartan Army members descended on the English capital for the match which ended in a 0-0 draw. They then partied into the night.

Health Secretary Humza Yousaf later confirmed that a number of cases had been linked to coaches taking fans to London. Mr Yousaf also suggested at the time: ‘I think some of the positive cases are linked to watching football indoors.’

Earlier this week, the Scottish Government’s national clinical director Professor Jason Leitch admitted: ‘Scotland being out [of the Euros] is very, very unfortunate from a sporting perspective, but probably better from a Covid perspective.’

If the link holds true, a win in tomorrow’s final against

Italy could see a further spike in cases in England.

Professor Martin McKee, an expert in public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said that the greatest risk was posed by football supporters celebrating in packed bars and congregating on public transport.

He said: ‘The association between spikes in cases and football matches is complicated. We did see clear increases associated with the England-Scotland match.

‘However, the risk is less likely to be at the match, where spectators are in the open, but in enclosed spaces such as bars and public transport. Crucially, the risk is determined by the probability that someone in the crowd has Covid – and that is becoming much more likely now as cases are soaring.’

Scottish Conservative public health spokesman Sandesh Gulhane said yesterday: ‘I welcome the fall in case numbers in Scotland as that means less families having to isolate and miss important life events.

‘But we know lots of cases have been linked to watching the Euros amid the confusing messaging from the SNP Government.

‘While it was understandable that the Tartan Army wanted to enjoy themselves, SNP ministers failed to be strong enough when it came to critical public health messaging. They didn’t stress enough the risks of travelling south of the Border for this match. Sadly, those fears of a rise in cases played out.’

‘Miss important life events’