Festivals and concerts are unlikely to be back up and running until Autumn next year, a healthcare expert has predicted.
Chicago based bioethicist and professor of healthcare management Zeke Emanuel has poured cold water on the idea that large public gatherings would be up and running later this year.
Speaking at a New York Times roundtable, Mr Emanuel questioned promoters who were rescheduling cancelled events for dates in 2020.
“Larger gatherings – conferences, concerts, sporting events – when people say they’re going to reschedule this conference or graduation event for October 2020, I have no idea how they think that’s a plausible possibility," he said.
"I think those things will be the last to return.
“Realistically we’re talking fall 2021 at the earliest.”
As it stands all UK festivals over the coming months have been cancelled.
Glastonbury Festival organisers decided it could not go ahead with its 50th anniversary in June and BST Hyde Park dates were cancelled.
US Festival Coachella moved its festival from April to October this year.
Others are playing for time.
Reading and Leeds Festival has yet to cancel its outings at the end of August this year, which will see Stomzy, Liam Gallagher and Rage Against the Machine headline if the events can run.
Mr Emanuel added: "Restarting the economy has to be done in stages, and it does have to start with more physical distancing at a worksite that allows people who are at lower risk to come back.
“Certain kinds of construction, or manufacturing or offices, in which you can maintain six-foot distances are more reasonable to start sooner.”
Yesterday Dominic Raab said the Government will not even consider lifting the UK coronavirus lockdown this week.
The Foreign Secretary said the UK was still not "past the peak of the virus" and added that "we don't expect to make any changes to the measures currently in place" after scientific advisory group (SAGE) meets later this week.
He said the country could not afford to take its 'foot off the pedal' and risk a second wave of the virus.
Opening the daily press briefing, Mr Raab said the Government was united in its "national mission" to defeat Covid-19, which has claimed over 11,000 lives in the UK.
