German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a joint press conference during Merkel’s visit to Britain, where they discussed concerns over large crowds at upcoming Euro 2020 football matches in London.
Merkel expressed skepticism about UEFA’s decision to allow more than 60,000 fans at Wembley Stadium for the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020, especially amid a surge in COVID-19 cases driven by the Delta variant.
“I am worried and skeptical about whether this is good,” Merkel said, highlighting the risks of large gatherings during the pandemic.
Johnson defended the decision to increase crowd capacity, stating that the UK would follow “scientific guidance” and implement measures to ensure safety. “The crucial point is that here in the UK, we have built up a very considerable wall of immunity against the disease by our vaccination program,” he said. “We have certain events which we can put on in a very careful and controlled manner with testing of everybody who goes there.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently warned that crowds at Euro 2020 stadiums and in host city pubs and bars are contributing to a rise in COVID-19 infections across Europe.
As nations grapple with balancing the return to normalcy and the ongoing threat of the pandemic, the differing perspectives of Merkel and Johnson underscore the complexities faced by governments in managing large-scale events.
