Boris Johnson has delayed the end of England’s coronavirus restrictions by up to four weeks amid fears it could lead to thousands of deaths and huge pressure on the NHS.
The prime minister announced that the final phase of the government’s plans to end lockdown would be put back due to concerns over the Delta coronavirus variant, which was first identified in India.
AFP
Experts feared going ahead with Step 4 on June 21 as planned could lead to hospital admissions on the scale of the first wave of Covid-19 heaping unsustainable pressure on the health service.
To avert this, Mr Johnson said during a Downing Street press conference that it is ‘sensible’ to put back the end of all legal limits on social contact to July 19, saying he is ‘confident’ no further delay will be necessary.
He hopes deaths will be significantly reduced by that point because two-thirds of adults will have then been offered both vaccine doses due to the delay being coupled with a reduction in the time between jabs for the over-40s.
The latest announcement will thus have an effect on sport in the country but what does it mean for Euro 2020 and the rest of sport in the land?
The Times reports there will be 45,000 fans in attendance at the climax of Euro 2020, with Wembley hosting the semi-finals and final of the tournament. It’s understood the semi-finals, final and one last-16 match have been granted test event status by the government.
The report adds in even more surprising news that the men and women’s finals at Wimbledon will be played in front of a capacity crowd.
Wimbledon has also been granted test event status and the men’s and women’s finals will be played in front of Centre Court’s 14,979 capacity crowd.
However, the tournament will operate at 50 per cent capacity, which will allow for 21,000 fans per day across the site.
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Fans attending the events will have to provide either proof of both vaccinations or supply a negative COVID test result.
Talks are still ongoing between the government and organisers of events such as the Challenge Cup final, Open golf championship and British Grand Prix, which are all taking place in July. However, it’s understood at least 10,000 fans will be able to attend.
