People are set to banned from playing golf and tennis from Thursday, with Michael Gove apologising for yesterday saying the sports would be allowed.
Yesterday the Cabinet Minister said that golf and tennis could be allowed in the new lockdown, as they only involve a couple of people playing together.
He said: "You’ll probably be able to play singles tennis and we are looking at allowing people to play golf with one other.”
But this morning he apologised for his comments and tweeted: "My apologies, I got this wrong. Outdoor leisure facilities including tennis courts and golf courses will be closed from Thursday."
From Thursday indoor and outdoor leisure facilities such as bowling alleys, leisure centres and gyms, sports facilities including swimming pools, golf courses and driving ranges, dance studios, stables and riding centres, soft play facilities, climbing walls and climbing centres, archery and shooting ranges, water and theme parks will all be closed.
Today Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, appeared on BBC Breakfast and explained the government's position further.
He said: "Tennis and golf won't be allowed and we appreciate the arguments made that these sports are often in small group, but for simplicity and clarity we will ask people to refrain from those sports.
"Indoor and outdoor leisure are closed."
But Mr Jenrick said there were some differences between the previous lockdown and this one in terms of people's ability to exercise.
Mr Jenrick said: "There are some differences that will benefit people in that there will be unlimited outdoor exercise, we are not going back to one walk a day for a limited time as we had in the first lockdown.
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"You can go out with your household or one other person so there is some greater freedom than there was with the first lockdown.
"But if we are going to have success we need to restrict competitive and team sport.
"We are doing this for the right reason, if we don't do this there is a real risk the NHS could be overwhelmed within a couple of weeks."
