Latest Gloucestershire news to your inbox Join us here Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Sports fans over 70 could be banned from some sporting events if the number of coronavirus cases soars, it is being reported.

Sporting authorities will be meeting broadcasters to discuss contingency plans as the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the UK hits 164.

According to reports out this morning the Premier League is considering banning over people 70 from football matches because they are in an age group considered to be at high risk from health conditions.

If the same advice is applied across the board it could have a massive impact on racegoers at the Cheltenham Festival and Gloucester Rugby matches.

Last week chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty admitted the elderly would be told to stay indoors and keep away from busy areas if the situation worsened.

At the time he said the UK had not reached that tipping point but since then it has become clear that the virus is is being transmitted between Britons rather than being brought in from abroad.

On Thursday evening a woman in her 70s became the first person in the UK to die after being diagnosed with coronavirus and on Friday evening a grandfather in his early 80s was the second.

Both fatalities so far have been elderly but both had underlying health conditions.

On Monday the Government will decide whether to move to the next step in a four-stage plan that includes harsh measures to delay the spread of the disease until the summer so hospitals have more capacity.

(Image: PA)

Any change in advice or policy would come just the day before the Cheltenham Festival gets underway on Tuesday when tens of thousands of racegoers flock to Cheltenham.

At the moment the racecourse is just warning people with colds and flu to stay away but that could change during race week itself if the situation worsens.

While bosses at the British Horseracing Authority and Cheltenham Racecourse insist it is full steam ahead ready, the odds on a possible cancellation have shortened as the number of cases increased.

As well as banning over 70s the footballing authorities could follow other European leagues like in Italy and play fixtures behind closed doors.

Sky News' sports correspondent Martha Kelner reported this morning:”'The league is also considering other possible contingency plans.

“That may include advising against, or even a possible ban, on over 70s - the demographic considered to be at highest risk from the spread of coronavirus - coming inside stadiums.”

(Image: PA)

Today science minister Amanda Solloway gave a hint of things to come when she told The Daily Telegraph people need to stay in touch with their elderly friends and neighbours over the coming months to stop them becoming socially isolated,

And Public Health England (PHE) are urging people to 'plan ahead' for their own family’s needs and consider how to support people in their community if more social distancing is imposed.

“This might include helping older relatives and neighbours to get some food in, so that they would have supplies for a week or so if required, ensuring someone would be available to go shopping for them, or arranging for online delivery if they needed it,” said a blog post.

Meanwhile Dr Richard Hatchett, who heads up the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, said called on all Governments to adopt an 'aggressive' response to tackle the virus.

Speaking to Channel 4 News, he said: “I've been working on epidemic preparedness for about 20 years and completely dispassionately without elevating the temperature or speaking hyperbolically.

“This is the most frightening disease I've ever encountered in my career, and that includes Ebola, it includes MERS and it includes SARS.

“I think the most concerning thing about this virus is the combination of infectiousness and the ability to cause severe disease or death.”



(Image: Getty Images)

As the Government moves towards the 'delay' phase of protecting against COVID-19 outbreak, we could see more draconian measures imposed there could be an impact on the Festival.

In their latest statement, the racecourse said they have increased the number of facilities available to racegoers, such as wash basins and toilet facilities.

Gloucestershire Live has approached the festival for a response.

The last statement from Cheltenham Racecourse said: "We look forward to staging The Festival presented by Magners at Cheltenham next week. We welcome the government's guidance that the business of the country should continue as usual, while ensuring we adhere to the latest public health advice.

"We have increased the number of wash basins and toilet facilities on site, we will make hand sanitiser readily available and increase the number of paper towels for hand drying.

"We have also increased staff numbers to ensure that soap and drying facilities are constantly available."