Five Premier League games postponed as UK COVID cases hit new record

The variety of postponed video games within the English Premier League has now risen to 5 after two extra fixtures had been cancelled on Thursday because the UK battles an exponential development in COVID-19 instances.

Rising infections at Leicester Metropolis compelled the postponement of their away sport at Tottenham, scheduled for Thursday, whereas an ongoing outbreak at Manchester United meant their Saturday sport at Brighton needed to be known as off too.

It comes after Brentford was unable to host United on Tuesday, whereas Brighton-Tottenham on Sunday and Burnley-Watford, initially scheduled for Wednesday, had been additionally postponed.

England and Scotland mull new restrictions

The variety of new instances within the UK hit a brand new document for the second consecutive day on Thursday, with 88,376 infections registered.

England’s chief medical officer warned the scenario is prone to worsen because the Omicron variant drives a brand new wave of sickness throughout the Christmas vacation.

This week each England and Scotland accepted new restrictions to stem the surge.

In England, frontline staff on the Nationwide Well being Service (NHS) have been instructed they’re going to should be double vaccinated by April in the event that they need to proceed to work.

Additionally, parliament accepted a mandate for stadiums, nightclubs and any indoor unseated venue with greater than 500 individuals to test prospects are both absolutely vaccinated or have taken a unfavorable check within the final 48 hours.

In Scotland, companies at the moment are compelled to take measures to restrict contacts, whereas care dwelling residents can obtain visits solely from a most of two households.

France restricts journey from the UK

On prime of recent restrictions, UK residents are additionally dealing with important new limitations on travels to neighbouring France.

From Saturday (December 18), journeys can be permitted solely in case of “compelling” causes, and all arrivals must current a unfavorable COVID-19 check lower than 24 hours previous in addition to isolate for at the least two days.

Watch extra on the brand new journey restrictions from our reporter Tadhg Enright within the participant above.