Key result
Strict COVID-19 mitigation at a football match linked to a low ~0.4% spectator positivity rate.
Why the study?
COVID-19 interrupted professional sporting activities, motivating an evaluation of resuming professional football events with fans and the likely spread of COVID-19 infections.
Does a strict testing and tracing protocol prevent COVID-19 transmission in spectators attending a professional football event?
Observational (n=16,171)
Does a strict testing and tracing protocol prevent COVID-19 transmission in spectators attending a professional football event?
A strict testing and tracing protocol allowed for the safe resumption of a professional football event with spectators, resulting in a very low incidence of COVID-19 infections.
Background: COVID-19 has interrupted professional sporting activities for more than a year and sent shockwaves across the society. Objectives: To evaluate the resumption of professional football event with fans and the likely spread of COVID-19 infections. Design: A retrospective observational studyMethods: The study involved football players, match officials, local organizing committee (LOC) members, working in close coordination, and over 16,000 spectators in the state of Qatar. We examined data from the Amir Cup final (December 18th , 2020), which was played under a strict protocol that included extensive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing for players and match officials, as well as the utility of COVID-19 rapid antigen testing and antibody testing as a tool for screening spectators to ensure their safe return to the stadiums. In addition, we reviewed the guidelines and protocols that were put in place to organize Qatar's Amir Cup Football Final, which drew over 16,000 fans in the stadium.Results: A total of 16171 spectators undertook rapid antigen and antibody tests for the Amir cup final (From Dec16-Dec18, 2020). Fifteen Spectators (n=15) returned with a positive result for COVID-19 infection during the final event (Positivity rate =0.12%). All players underwent RT-PCR testing 48 hours before the match. None of the players tested positive for Covid-19 infections. 1311 individuals reported having symptoms related to COVID-19 post final of Amir Cup. These spectators were tested for COVID-19 RT-PCR with an overall positivity rate (positive/reactive) to be 0.42% (69/16171).Conclusion: This report shows a meagre incidence rate of COVID-19 infections during and post-Amir Cup final, and based on this, it appears that during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the supervised and controlled resumption of football matches with spectators can be carried out safely following a strict testing and tracing protocol.
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Khan et al. (2021) conducted an observational in COVID-19 (n=16,171). Attending a mass sporting event under strict COVID-19 mitigation protocols was evaluated on COVID-19 positivity rate post-event. Attending a professional football match under strict testing and mitigation protocols resulted in a low post-event COVID-19 positivity rate of 0.42% among 16,171 spectators.
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