An estimated 31 million people watched the Euro 2020 final on television on Sunday evening.   Many more met up with their mates outside to watch the match on large screens and a lucky 60,000 (with proof of vaccination, negative lateral flow test or post-COVID infection antibodies) were at Wembley itself.

However, a leading World Health Organisation epidemiologist was not a happy bunny, calling the opportunity for COVID to spread through the Wembley crowd “devastating” – “The Covid-19 pandemic is not taking a break tonight… SARSCoV2 Delta Variant will take advantage of unvaccinated people, in crowded settings, unmasked, screaming/shouting/singing”.  

There’s anecdotal evidence from previous matches that football gatherings have resulted in COVID coming home for a sizeable minority (biased towards men), so there’s a good chance that it will happen again.  Many of these will be jabbed by now (87% adults singly or 66% adults doubly) and will hopefully suffer only mild symptoms or none at all.  But they will be able to pass it on to unvaccinated others. 

At the same time, the Government announced on Monday that almost all of England’s lockdown rules will end on 19 July 2021.  No more legal restrictions on meeting up, but we are asked to meet outside wherever possible.  No social distancing required.  No obligation to wear a face covering, although it is “expected and recommended” that those in crowded public settings including on public transport continue to do so.

These new freedoms will tie in with the end of the summer term, so the risks of students and schoolchildren passing on the virus between each other and onto their families will be reduced.  But hospital admissions are still likely to significantly increase as the daily infection rate is expected to increase from 34,471 on Monday (up from around 1,700 in mid-May) to 100,000 by mid-August.  Better to get the next peak of COVID infection out the way before the winter flu virus takes hold and hospital are under even more pressure.  That’s the logic any way.

So what will this mean for the workplace.  Although the Government’s instruction to work from home wherever possible will no longer apply, most employers are unlikely to rush back to having fully occupied offices.  There will be a gradual return, perhaps on a hybrid basis, with many employers holding back until the end of the summer when hopefully we will be nearing second jab plus two weeks for all those who are intending to be vaccinated.  Employers should consider asking staff to reveal their vaccination status to better inform decision-making, review COVID risk assessments and comply with the Government’s guidance as it may be updated from time to time. 

Make sure that your office policies clearly state what is expected from staff to minimise the transmission of the virus in the workplace.  Don’t forget what to do about the humble handshake whilst not turning staff into ungracious automatons?  We still need to acknowledge those we meet and perhaps head off the handshake from third parties who won’t be bound by your policy.  Give them options whilst avoiding allegations of cultural appropriation – coupled with a “hi” or “hello”, a nod or wave to the other person at just beyond arm’s length before they move in for a handshake should do the trick.   Alternatively, the ubiquitous elbow bump is also a possibility.

If you need guidance on issues relating to a return to the workplace as COVID restrictions ease, including continued homeworking and vaccination, please contact the team at Synchrony Law for details of how we can help you.