People attending major sporting events over the next few weeks should be told explicitly that they are taking part in potentially risky research, scientists have warned.
Approximately 40,000 fans are due to attend England’s clash with Germany at Wembley on Tuesday, while the crowd will be 60,000 for the semi-finals and final next week. Tens of thousands will head to Wimbledon from tomorrow, while next month 140,000 are expected at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix.
Health experts say these events are being permitted purely to determine the risks involved in major gatherings that might then be held later in the year as the nation attempts to return to some kind of normality.
“These are research projects. That is the only reason they are being permitted,” said Professor John Edmunds of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
He added that he was concerned people were buying tickets without realising these events were being permitted only to assess the likelihood of viruses being spread at large gatherings.
“We have to do this if we want to fully open up sporting…
