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. 2022 Apr 22:150:e166.
doi: 10.1017/S0950268822000723.

Winning during a pandemic: epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 during EURO2020 in Italy

Flavia Riccardo  1 , Emanuela Maria Frisicale  2 , Giorgio Guzzetta  3 , Federica Ferraro  2 , Stefano Merler  3 , Guido Maringhini  4 , Matteo Spuri  1 , Daniele Petrone  1 , Maria Cristina Rota  1 , Alessia Rapiti  2 , Ulrico Angeloni  2 , Pasqualino Rossi  2 , Marco Tallon  1 , Stefania Giannitelli  1 , Patrizio Pezzotti  1 , Martina Del Manso  1 , Antonino Bella  1 , Francesco Paolo Maraglino  2
Affiliations

Winning during a pandemic: epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 during EURO2020 in Italy

Flavia Riccardo et al. Epidemiol Infect. .

Abstract

Introduction: EURO2020 generated a growing media and population interest across the month period, that peaked with large spontaneous celebrations across the country upon winning the tournament.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed data from the national surveillance system (indicator-based) and from event-based surveillance to assess how the epidemiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) changed in June-July 2021 and to describe cases and clusters linked with EURO2020.

Results: Widespread increases in transmission and case numbers, mainly among younger males, were documented in Italy, none were linked with stadium attendance. Vaccination coverage against SARS-CoV-2 was longer among cases linked to EURO2020 than among the general population.

Conclusions: Transmission increased across the country, mainly due to gatherings outside the stadium, where, conversely, strict infection control measures were enforced. These informal 'side' gatherings were dispersed across the entire country and difficult to control. Targeted communication and control strategies to limit the impact of informal gatherings occurring outside official sites of mass gathering events should be further developed.

Keywords: COVID-19; infectious disease epidemiology; outbreaks; surveillance system; transmission.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Newly diagnosed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 137.985), by date of symptoms' onset (green) and date of diagnosis (blue), Italy, 1 June – 31 July 2021 (data consolidated as of 11 November 2021).
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Net reproduction number (Rt) at national (thick line) and regional (thin line) level by week in relation with main EURO2020 MG events, Italy, 1 June – 31 July 2021 (data consolidated as of 11 November 2021).
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Peak increase in the net reproduction number (Rt) at national (blue square) and regional (grey squares) level compared with 1 June 2021 in relation with the EURO2020 final match, Italy, 1 June – 31 July 2021 (data consolidated as of 11 November 2021).
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Median age of newly diagnosed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection and percentile ranges (25–75 and 5–95), Italy, 1 June – 31 July 2021 (data consolidated as of 11 November 2021).
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
Fifteen-day distribution of newly diagnosed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection (n = 137.985), age group and sex, Italy, 1 June – 31 July 2021 (data consolidated as of 11 November 2021).
Fig. 6.
Fig. 6.
Newly diagnosed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection with reported most likely exposure linked with EURO2020 MG events (n = 344), Italy, 1 June – 31 July 2021 (data consolidated as of 11 November 2021).
Fig. 7.
Fig. 7.
Newly diagnosed cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection with reported most likely exposure linked with EURO2020 MG events (n = 344), by age group (left) and Region/AP of diagnoses (right), Italy, 1 June – 31 July 2021 (data consolidated as of 11 November 2021).
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