LONDON (REUTERS) - Sports stadiums across England are set to return to full capacity from July 19 after the British government announced the next stage in easing of the Covid-19 restrictions on Monday (July 5). The proposal, which will be voted upon on July 12, would lift all remaining restrictions in the country. While social distancing and mandatory mask-wearing will be scrapped, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said some venues may choose to make use of NHS vaccine passport service for entry. "From step four we will remove all legal limits on the numbers meeting indoors and outdoors," Johnson said at a news conference. "We will allow all businesses to reopen, including nightclubs, we will lift the limit on named visitors to care homes and the numbers of people attending concerts, theatre, and sports events." The move means there could be full stadiums for the start of the new Premier League season starting on Aug 13. There will also be hope for packed stadiums during England's five-test cricket series against India starting on Aug 4, as well as at the Glorious Goodwood horse racing festival at the end of this month. Crowds have either been kept out entirely or allowed in restricted numbers since the Covid-19 pandemic hit the UK in March last year. Test events with higher attendances have been held in recent months as part of a government pilot programme. As part of the trials, Wimbledon has been allowed to have capacity crowds starting with Tuesday's singles quarter-final matches. More on this topic Related Story No face masks, no social distancing when England ends Covid-19 restrictions on July 19 Related Story Football: Wembley crowd of 60,000 for Euro semis and final, says UK govt Related Stories: Related Story Moving from Covid-19 pandemic to endemic: Singapore's strategy and how it can unfold Related Story Covid-19 cases climb in Thailand as it opens up less-affected Phuket to tourists Related Story Pfizer, Moderna vaccines likely to produce long-lasting immunity: Study Related Story MOH to stop giving details of Covid-19 community cases Related Story Australia will cut international arrivals by 50% to stop Covid-19 surge Related Story Ventilator 'bank' boosts Covid-19 fight in Nepal's hospitals Related Story Israel requires masks indoors again as Delta variant drives up cases Related Story Scientists hunt for a coronavirus super shot Related Story Delta Plus, a potentially deadlier Covid-19 variant, causing concern in India
LONDON (REUTERS) - The WTA wiped out the Asian swing of tournaments from its calendar for a second successive year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with only the WTA Finals yet to be cancelled. The tournaments, which typically kick off after conclusion of the US Open in September, cannot be held due to travel restrictions in China and Japan, the WTA said on Thursday (July 1), adding that it was working to relocate the events. "We are disappointed that our world-class events in China and Japan will not take place this year," WTA chief executive officer Steve Simon said in a statement. "We are working on a parallel path to provide playing opportunities in other regions." Officials from the governing body of women's tennis said the WTA Finals due to be held in Shenzhen remained "under discussion." The Indian Wells tournament will occupy some of the calendar after being rescheduled from March to Oct 4-17, with tournament organisers announcing on Thursday that "all fans, staff, sponsors, media, and vendors" must show proof of a Covid-19 vaccine in order to enter the grounds. A new WTA 250 tournament - the Chicago Women's Open - was added to the calendar as well, kicking off on Aug 23. The ATP said on Thursday that the Shanghai Masters intended to stage a competition later this year while the Japan Open Tennis Championships, the China Open and the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech would not go ahead due to Covid-19 restrictions. More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Wimbledon welcomes back the crowds after Covid-19 shutdown Related Story Coronavirus microsite: Get latest updates, videos and graphics Related Stories: Related Story Perks for those vaccinated against Covid-19 not meant to be discriminatory: Ong Ye Kung Related Story EU-approved Covid-19 vaccines protect against Delta variant, says official Related Story Vietnam seeks to boost testing as Covid-19 cases hit record Related Story WHO warns of third coronavirus wave in Europe; Delta virus dampens tourism hopes Related Story Covid-19 cluster at Block 506 Hougang Avenue 8 among 4 closed Related Story S'pore could ease Covid-19 dine-in rules from July 12, may allow SHN-free travel by year end: Ong Ye Kung Related Story S'pore may allow leisure travel by year end; US, EU, HK among likely locations
BERLIN (AFP) - Germany's strict new travel restrictions have cast doubt over RB Leipzig's Champions League last 16 meeting with Liverpool, after a government spokesperson told AFP on Monday (Feb 1) that the rules do not exempt professional athletes. The ban on travellers from countries hit by new, more contagious coronavirus variants such as Britain contains "no special provision for professional sportspeople", an interior ministry spokesperson told AFP. Introduced on Saturday and in place until February 17, the new rules could scupper Premier League champions Liverpool's trip to Leipzig's Red Bull Arena the day before. Unless they are granted special exemption, Liverpool staff and players would be unable to enter Germany from Britain according to the rules. While coach Jurgen Klopp would be allowed into the country as a German national, he would have to leave most of his team behind. Germany introduced the tougher travel restrictions on certain countries in a bid to limit the spread of new coronavirus variants. The countries affected by the ban are Britain, Ireland, Portugal, Brazil and South Africa, as well as the southern African kingdoms of Lesotho and Eswatini. The entry restrictions cover arrivals by air, bus, rail and sea, and allow exceptions for medical workers and others in key jobs. Yet the interior ministry spokesperson said Monday that there would only be "a few, narrow exemptions".
AUCKLAND (REUTERS) - New Zealand have cancelled their friendly international against England at Wembley Stadium next month citing player unavailability and travel restrictions arising from the novel coronavirus pandemic. The match was due to take place on Nov 12. "It is not an action taken lightly, this is a match we all wanted to play, however, as it stands... a significant number of the team would be subject to quarantine or restrictions on their return home," NZ Football CEO Andrew Pragnell said. "This would heavily disrupt their domestic seasons and potentially jeopardise their professional careers. "The shifting nature of travel restrictions and commercial flight availability under Covid means that we do not have certainty we could assemble a squad at Wembley on this day and defaulting on this fixture at the last minute is not an option." Pragnell said New Zealand would now look forward to the March 2021 international window as they begin their qualifying campaign for the World Cup in 2022. Related Stories: Related Story 5 new Covid-19 cases in S'pore, including 2 in community Related Story 31-year-old man from India tests positive for Covid-19 after completing SHN Related Story Australia in travel talks with Singapore, Japan, South Korea as coronavirus cases ease Related Story Trump back in Oval Office, aims to return to campaign trail next week despite Covid-19 Related Story Former Thai PM Thaksin had coronavirus but recovered: Source Related Story Malaysian leaders draw flak after post-election coronavirus jump Related Story Interactive: How the world lost one million lives to Covid-19 Related Story Experts in Britain warn coronavirus is out of control Related Story Coronavirus super spreaders drove explosive outbreak in India Related Story South Korea's new Covid-19 cases in triple digits again as Chuseok holiday travels begin Related Story 'Lockdown Lite' is the new strategy for fighting Covid-19