Matt Hancock the health secretary has admitted the London marathon could be cancelled this year over coronavirus fears.
The marathon attracts around 45,000 runners from all over the world and more than 1m spectators who line up the capitals’ streets.
Hancock said the chance of the coronavirus crisis becoming a pandemic is now a “serious possibility” but, it is “still too early to tell.”
Hugh Brasher, events director at the London Marathon said, “We are monitoring closely the developments relating to the spread of coronavirus and noting the updates and advice given by the UK government, the World Health Organisation and other UK public bodies.
“With just under eight weeks to go before the event on Sunday April 26, we will continue to monitor the situation.”
Hancock said, “Right now, we do not recommend the cancelling of mass events and schools as well should not be closing unless there is a positive case and the schools have the advice to close.
“There maybe things we have to do down the line that we don’t want to, but we will need the powers to do that hence proposing emergency legislation.”
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