Why are so many people in Wembley Stadium for the England vs Italy Euro 2020 final?
Don't miss a thing by getting the day's biggest stories sent direct to your inbox Invalid Email Something went wrong, please try again later. Click here Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice  More than 60,000 people will be inside Wembley Stadium for the Euro 2020 final between England and Itlay. Seeing huge numbers of people in the ground watching the game during the Covid-19 pandemic may be a surprise for TV viewers at home - but there is a reason for it. The Euros are being used as a test event by the government's Event Research Programme to monitor Covid-19 infection rates. The Event Research Programme was set up to monitor ways in which people can attend events safely through a combination of testing and non-pharmaceutical interventions - actions people can take to reduce the spread of coronavirus. READ MORE: Lawyers warn fans you could be fired if you call in sick on Monday  Other events involved in the programme included the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield, Circus Nightclub in Liverpool and the BRIT Awards in London, among others. Approximately 22,500 fans, around 25 per cent of Wembley's capacity, attended England's first three group stage games at the Euros. And last month the UK government announced that more than 60,000 fans - 75 per cent of the stadium's capacity - would be able to watch the semi-finals and final. The M.E.N apps and email newsletters Get the latest news from Greater Manchester, the UK and around the globe on the free Manchester Evening News apps - download them here for your Apple or Android device. You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the M.E.N. email newsletters - subscribe here. And you can follow us on Facebook here. People attending the games at Wembley have had to follow strict COVID-19 entry requirements. All ticket holders need to have had a negative COVID-19 test or proof of full vaccination - two doses received, 14 days before the fixture. Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: "We are thrilled that more fans will now be able to walk through the Wembley turnstiles and enjoy the finals of EURO 2020. "As we continue to make progress on our roadmap out of lockdown, keeping the public safe remains our top priority. We have worked extremely closely with UEFA and the FA to ensure rigorous and tight public health measures are in place whilst allowing more fans to see the action live. The finals promise to be an unforgettable moment in our national recovery from the pandemic." UEFA has stated it was fully aligned with local health authorities guidelines at every venue. The final decisions with regards to the number of fans attending matches and the entry requirements to any of the host countries and host stadiums fall under the responsibility of the competent local authorities, and UEFA strictly follows any such measures.  The World Health Organisation Europe has reiterated the importance of monitoring movements at mass gatherings such as these Euro 2020 matches. We need to look much beyond just the stadia themselves, said Catherine Smallwood, the WHOs senior emergency officer. And weve said should this mixing happen, there will be cases.