Coronavirus: Talk of cancelling sports matches due to COVID-19 'very premature', says culture secretary
Oliver Dowden says the government has yet to see any evidence to justify banning mass gatherings.
Monday 9 March 2020 10:31, UK
Talk of cancelling sports matches due to the coronavirus outbreak is "very premature", the culture secretary has told Sky News.
Ahead of his talks with sporting bodies on Monday, Oliver Dowden stressed the government has yet to see any evidence to justify banning mass gatherings.
In Italy, which has seen more than 350 deaths from COVID-19, major football matches have been played behind closed doors after supporters were told to stay away to help prevent the further spread of the disease.
France has also banned public gatherings of more than 1,000 people and postponed football matches.
But, Mr Dowden suggested there was no immediate prospect of similar action being taken in the UK.
"We'll take evidence from the experts and base our decisions on the facts that we receive from them, particularly the chief medical officer [Professor Chris Whitty]," the culture secretary told Sky News' Kay Burley@Breakfast show.
"I think in terms of postponing mass sporting events or cancelling them, I think it's very premature to talk about that sort of thing.
"We'll be driven by the evidence, but there is no evidence at the moment to justify such cancellation."
Mr Dowden added he was in "constant dialogue" with sporting chiefs and, if the advice from the government's medical advisers was to change, then ministers' stance on sporting events would also likely change.
"If we get to the point where we think that needs to happen, we would take that decision," he said.
"But we're taking our decisions based on the facts and the evidence and it's really not pointing to that at the moment.
"I put the caveat round it that, if that changes, then of course our advice would change."
Most recent coronavirus developments in the UK:
- Three deaths in patients who tested positive with the virus
- Victims were in Berkshire, Milton Keynes and Manchester
- Sunday saw a rise of 72 cases to reach a total of 278 - the highest increase in cases in a 24-hour period
- Supermarkets have placed restrictions on items including pasta, anti-bacterial wipes and hand soap in a bid to prevent shoppers from stockpiling
- Foreign Office advises against all but essential travel to northern Italy
- People returning from affected areas in Italy told to self-isolate regardless of whether they have symptoms
- The virus-stricken Grand Princess cruise ship with more than 140 Britons on board is due to dock in Oakland, California on Monday
Despite the government not following the action of other countries such as Italy or France, the chair of the British Medical Association representative body, Dr Helena McKeown, said large indoor events should be cancelled.
"I think we are keen, in medicine, to reduce unnecessary risk," she told the same programme.
"I think very large events undercover are perhaps now becoming an unnecessary risk."
She added: "Certainly where we can see hotspots developing, I do expect to hear clear advice that they should not go ahead.
"I think people organising these concerts etc. really do need clear advice."
Dr McKeown also said shaking hands with others was an "unnecessary risk".
The Premier League have ditched pre-match handshakes between both teams and officials due to the coronavirus.
But Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will not stop greeting people with a handshake.
Prof Whitty has said transmission of coronavirus through handshaking is "unlikely" if people wash their hands because the disease "doesn't get in through the skin".
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