UK fans celebrating Euros ‘may have been an important factor in rising Covid cases’

Prof Hunter said it was “difficult to escape the conclusion” that revelling fans had not contributed to the rising numbers of cases

England fans celebrate outside Wembley Stadium (PA)

Football fans celebrating the Euros in the UK may have been “an important factor” in driving up coronavirus case numbers, an expert has said.

Data from England, Scotland and Wales shows an “obvious surge” in case numbers starting around 10 days after the first games involving each nation, according to Paul Hunter, professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia.