Competitive Sports Allowed To Resume Behind Closed Doors In England From Monday

Competitive sports will be allowed to resume behind closed doors in England from Monday, the UK government has announced.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden announced the news at the daily briefing, though the new guidance includes numerous restrictions.

Participants in live sport will be screened for Covid-19, the use of dressing rooms will be minimised and the 2m social distancing rule must be observed 'where possible'.

Premier League games will also be broadcast live on BBC for the first time ever, including the Liverpool vs Everton derby.

PA

Dowden said: "Football, tennis, horse racing, Formula One, cricket, golf, rugby, snooker and others are all set to return to our screens shortly.

"We still have a way to go, but for a sporting-loving nation, today really is a significant milestone."

He also announced that people in England will be able to exercise outside with up to five others from different households from Monday, provided that strict social distancing guidelines are followed. Physical contact is still prohibited and people from different households must keep at least two metres apart.

Meanwhile, there have been 215 more deaths from coronavirus in the UK in the last 24 hours across all settings, with the death toll now rising to 38,376.

At yesterday's briefing, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the furlough scheme would end in October, with the deadline for new applications 30 June.

He also revealed that the self-employment income support scheme will be extended, meaning those who are eligible will be able to apply for a second and final grant in August.

As before, the self-employment income support scheme will pay out a grant worth 70 percent of a self-employed person's average monthly trading profits in a single instalment covering three months' worth of profits and capped at £6,570.

Under the new terms of the furlough scheme, the government will continue to pay towards furloughed staff's wages, but employers will be contributing after July.

Sunak said: "Our top priority has always been to support people, protect jobs and businesses through this crisis. The furlough and self-employment schemes have been a lifeline for millions of people and businesses.

"We stood behind Britain's businesses and workers as we came into this crisis and we stand behind them as we come through the other side.

"Now, as we begin to re-open our country and kickstart our economy, these schemes will adjust to ensure those who are able to work can do so, while remaining amongst the most generous in the world."

Topics: UK News, Coronavirus

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey