Coronavirus: insider reveals when UK lockdown will be lifted
MOD insider reveals when golf courses might reopen again...
An insider with information from the Ministry of Defence has told GolfMagic how the UK lockdown is expected to remain in place until at least the week commencing May 25 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite government warnings for people to 'Stay Home, Protect the NHS and Save Lives', there are still many people in the country who are not adhering to guidelines by having picnics in parks, and even on golf courses, and many large gatherings are still being spotted in public places.
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"It is to my knowledge that lockdown conditions are expected to remain in place for at least another five weeks in the UK," said our top Whitehall source and keen golfer, who has chosen to remain anonymous.
"The lockdown could then lift slowly, bit by bit around the country depending on how badly those georgraphical locations have been infected by COVID-19.
"Golf courses certainly won't be opening up for tee times within the next few weeks, that is for sure."
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Government officials are said to be considering such a move over the coming weeks, but our source believes it will prove no easy task with the British public - especially given how many people are breaking guidelines already this month.
Our source said: "If the lockdown is lifted in one region, then it's going to be tough to convince people in other areas that they must continue to put their lives on hold.
"People want their lives back quickly, so if they see areas returning to some sort of normality before other regions in the country, then it could cause all sorts of problems. There are still lots of things to consider here.
"The country is being urged to stay home so we can prevent this virus spreading any further. That message will not change anytime soon. The more people stay at home, the quicker we can all return to the lives we previously had."
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Given such information, it would appear very few golf courses will be opening anytime before June.
The PGA Tour, European Tour and golf's governing bodies the R&A and USGA have cancelled or postponed major golf tournaments this year as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Masters was due to take place last week but has now been pushed back to November, with the US Open moving to September and the US PGA to August. The Ryder Cup also remains in its initial spot for September.
However, there was no such luck for The Open as it has been cancelled in 2020, but it will still be contested at Royal St George's, with future Open venues now being shuffled back a year.
The PGA Tour has confirmed it is planning to restart its schedule on June 11 at the Charles Schwab Challenge, but much of that depends on the continued spread of coronavirus over the coming weeks.
It has also suggested that the Ryder Cup will go ahead without fans in September, but a number of players including Rory McIlroy have claimed they are not keen on it taking place if that is to be the case.
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With UK prime minister Boris Johnson still recovering from coronavirus having only recently come out of intensive care, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been addressing the nation on a daily basis in his absence as the UK now moves into a fifth week of lockdown.
The United Kingdom has announced another 616 coronavirus victims today, taking the total number of fatalities due to coronavirus in the UK to 18,783.
Andy first joined the brand on a month's work experience back in April 2011, and he now assumes the Editor role. When Andy joined GolfMagic it was a small site with potential.
