Luton Town’s Championship clash at home to Preston North End on Saturday has the go-ahead, but the remainder of the season has been plunged into doubt after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a potential ban on sporting events due to the spread of Coronavirus.
After the World Health Organisation announced a global pandemic, the Prime Minister today called the situation, the “worst public health crisis for a generation”, but stopped short of declaring an immediate ban on major events, as Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon had hours before.
Reports in The Times last night suggested that games in the Premier League and Football League could be played behind closed doors to help contain the outbreak, as has happened in some European countries.
Football leagues in Italy, Spain, Holland, Portugal and USA have already been suspended, while in England, the Premier League clash between Manchester City and Arsenal was last night postponed – after several Gunners went into self-isolation – and Manchester United and Wolverhampton Wanderers will tonight play Europa League games behind closed doors.
In Scotland, the leader of the governing SNP Party, Ms Sturgeon, announced the “cancellation of mass gatherings” of more than 500 people from Monday, but the Prime Minister has said he is being guided by science so, for now, Luton’s fixture and all other Football League games this weekend appear to have the go-ahead.
“We are considering, the question of banning major public events, such as sporting fixtures. The scientific advice, as we’ve said over the last couple of weeks, is that banning such events will have little effect on the spread (of Coronavirus),” the Prime Minister said in a news conference this afternoon.
“But there is also the issue of the burden that such events can place on public services. We are discussing the issues with all colleagues in all parts of the United Kingdom and we’ll have more to say shortly about the timing of further action in that respect.”
Though schools will not be closed, as has been announced in the Republic of Ireland, the Prime Minister warned that further measures to delay the spread of the Covid-19 virus will be announced in the near future and that is likely to include sporting events.
He said: “There is no escaping the reality that these measures will cause severe disruption across our country for many months. The best scientific advice is that this will help slow the disease and save lives.”
In a bid to help minimise the spread of Coronavirus, Luton Town has today asked all staff and media to complete a visitor health screening questionnaire, while tomorrow’s pre-match press conference with Graeme Jones will be conducted, for the first time ever, over video conferencing technology.
Yesterday the club made a statement saying, ‘Kenilworth Road is currently open for business as usual meaning the match against Preston North End on Saturday is going ahead as planned at the moment.’
The club also revealed a deep clean of their stadium and their training ground The Brache is underway, and are imposing strict controls on visitors entering either venues, adding: ‘Players and coaching staff are also being requested to practice a state of semi-isolation for the time being.’
The club has also appealed to fans to limit the spread of the Coronavirus, adding: “We ask all supporters planning to attend the match to do so only if they feel in good health.
‘If you are experiencing symptoms (which include a cough, a high temperature or shortness of breath) or have been to any high-risk areas, the Government advice is to call NHS 111, stay indoors and avoid contact with other people immediately.
‘Anyone with flu-like symptoms should avoid the risk of spreading their infection by staying at home and recovering.
‘We request that all supporters who do attend, upon arrival at the ground, please ensure they wash their hands in any of the public toilets, which have all had extra soap and hand sanitisers installed.’
The Lutonian contacted Luton Town who said there would be no further statement planned at this time.
Today a tenth UK death, related to Coronavirus, was confirmed by NHS England, and the Prime Minister this afternoon said: “This is the worst public health crisis for a generation.”
With the elderly and vulnerable, particularly at risk, he added: “I must level with the British public, many more families are going to lose loved ones before their time.”
The Prime Minsiter also urged anyone displaying symptoms of Coronavirus to self-isolate for seven days, and for all people to continue to regularly wash their hands.
