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Although the COVID pandemic is far from over, a relatively high vaccination rate in the UK has allowed life to slowly return to some pre-pandemic “normalcy,” with restrictions, of course.
For football, this means 10,000 fans will be allowed in the ground for the last two matches of the season, including Liverpool’s last match against Crystal Palace at Anfield.
A return of fans, even a relatively small number, will be exhilarating for players and fans alike.
However, this does not mean that caution should be thrown out the window. As such, the Liverpool City Council’s Ground Safety Advisory Group and Public Health Department are advising fans to get tested 24-36 hours before the match.
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Fans attending LFC v Palace strongly recommended to take COVID-19 test Liverpool City Council s Ground Safety Advisory Group and Public Health Department are strongly recommending supporters who are attending the final game of the season at Anfield to take a lateral flow test prior to the match.
The 10,000 tickets available for the Crystal Palace fixture are being sold via a ballot and the city’s health experts are asking fans to take a test 24 to 36 hours prior to kick-off. Access to COVID-19 tests across the city are being expanded in advance of the game.
Matt Ashton, director of public health at Liverpool City Council, said: “The return of football fans to Anfield for the last home game of the season is a landmark moment in our slow return to normality from the grip of lockdown.
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Supporters selected by Everton from the ballot of season ticket holders and Lounge members to attend the club s final home game of the season are being strongly advised to take a lateral flow test prior to the game.
Liverpool City Council s Ground Safety Advisory Group (GSAG) and Public Health department have made the recommendation for the reduced-capacity fixture that will see around 6,500 fans return to Goodison Park, the most that have been allowed into the ground since March last year.
Matt Ashton, Director of Public Health at Liverpool City Council said: “The return of football fans to Goodison Park for the last home game of the season is a landmark moment in our slow return to normality from the grip of lockdown. Whilst it is a cause for celebration, the threat of coronavirus, including the new Covid-19 strain (originally detected in India) is very real within o
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image captionBlossoms headlined a large festival at Sefton Park on Sunday
Liverpool s public health boss has said he is confident the large-crowd event experiments in the city will prove to be a success and help reopen society.
Crowds enjoyed a music festival, two club nights and a business conference with no masks or social distancing.
While data is yet to be fully analysed, Matt Ashton said he did not believe the weekend s events would lead to a spike in Covid cases.
It was part of the government s plan to test reopening large gatherings.
Mr Ashton said there would be big lessons learned from the events, which would hopefully speed up the reopening of this important part of our economy .