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(Combines separate stories, adds background)
LONDON, July 2 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris
Johnson rebuffed concerns raised by German Chancellor Angela
Merkel, during a visit to Britain, that big crowds at upcoming
Euro 2020 soccer matches in London could accelerate the spread
of COVID-19.
Johnson, speaking alongside Merkel at a joint news
conference, said he did not plan to order a reduction in crowds
attending the remaining tournament matches at Wembley Stadium.
Crowd capacity at Wembley will be increased to more than
60,000 fans for the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 under a
pilot scheme announced last week.
"Of course we'll follow the scientific guidance and the
advice if we receive any such suggestion," Johnson said in
response to a question from a journalist.
"But at the moment... the position is very clear in the UK,
which is that we have certain events which we can put on in a
very careful and controlled manner with testing of everybody who
goes there."
Johnson also said Britain had built up a "considerable wall
of immunity" against COVID-19 with its vaccination programme.
Merkel said she was worried about UEFA's decision to allow
bigger crowds during a spike in the coronavirus crisis caused by
the Delta variant.
"I am worried and sceptical about whether this is good,"
Merkel said at the same news conference.
The World Health Organisation said on Thursday that crowds
at Euro 2020 stadiums and in pubs and bars in host cities were
driving the current rise in coronavirus infections in Europe.
Scottish authorities said on Wednesday that nearly 2,000
people who live in Scotland have attended a Euro 2020 event
while infectious with COVID-19, with many heading to London for
Scotland's group stage match against England on June 18.
(Reporting by William James in London and Paul Carrel in Berlin
Writing by William Schomberg
Editing by Alistair Smout)
