Mass gatherings could be cancelled for at least two months

MASS gatherings including sporting events and concerts could face cancellations for at least two months amid the global spread of the coronavirus.

As the 19th case of coronavirus was confirmed in the UK, experts have warned of school closures and cancelled events as the disease spreads.

Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical officer, said on Thursday that there could be a “social cost” if the virus intensifies.

“One of the things that’s really clear with this virus, much more so than flu, is that anything we do we’re going to have to do for quite a long period of time, probably more than two months,” he said.

Professor Whitty said he was not saying that would happen, but that the effectiveness of such strategies would have to be weighed up against the social impact.

Fears over the spread of the virus have already prompted the cancellation of several large events across the globe.

When asked how close the UK was to cancelling big events due to the virus, Health Minister Jo Churchill said yesterday: “We are taking the advice of the Chief Medical Officer and assessing the situation on a dayby-day basis.

“Any decision to cancel events or mass gatherings have to be assessed at the time, based on clinical guidance and based on risk.”

Yesterday the Swiss government announced an immediate ban on all “public and private” events in the country involving more than 1,000 people.

The ban will last until at least March 15 and is set to cause the cancellation of the Geneva International Motor Show, one of the biggest events in the car industry.