Britain may be on the cusp of a coronavirus outbreak with mass gatherings banned by the government from next weekend, however a number of large events went ahead as planned today despite the last 24 hours seeing the UK's death toll from the virus double.
Liverpool's half marathon and ten mile race saw around 6,000 participants turn out to run the course despite 14 coronavirus cases confirmed in the Merseyside region, eight of them in Liverpool.
In Leeds the famous annual Otley run pub crawl, popular with Leeds University students, went ahead as usual with participants visiting up to sixteen individual bars on the route as the University cancels all physical lectures from Monday.
In the south of the country, Bath Half, the city's half marathon also went ahead with around 12,000 participants running the course despite warnings from Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse who said the event was 'simply not worth the risk'.
The MP wrote in a statement yesterday: 'I am appealing to the organisers to cancel the event. The government itself made a U-turn on its policy last night but is only calling for mass events to be cancelled from next weekend.
'This leaves a very worrying window of one week, precisely when infection is rising'.
Betsan Corkhill, a wellbeing coach for people with life threatening illness took to Twitter to voice her concern writing: 'Not cancelling the Bath Half Marathon this Sunday shows an utter disrespect for vulnerable, immuno suppressed & elderly of the city. Not to mention the added burden on hospital, paramedics, GPs already working at capacity even before #Covid_19 hits the city.'
However London Marathon, the world's biggest 26.2mile run, which attracts 45,000 racers from across the planet, will take place six months later than planned on October 4 after being postponed due to the virus.
Manchester Marathon, the UK's second-biggest run, has also been postponed, after organisers fretted about the 'potential impacts' of the pandemic on the event. Meanwhile in Leeds, pub-goers who were unwilling to miss the annual Otley run, a pub crawl consisting of sixteen bars, were seen in their fancy dress - with several wearing hazmat suits.
Traipsing around three miles from Far Headlingley, north of the city, to The Dry Dock on the edge of the city centre revellers are encouraged to enjoy a drink at every bar en route.
The tradition is usually undertaken by Leeds university students, who have been cautioned to take precautions against the spread by washing their hands - the university plans to teach all its lectures online from March 16.
The total number of deaths in the UK has doubled in 24 hours, globally the death toll has passed 5,000.
Cheltenham Races also drew its usual large crowds as 70,000 people turned out during the four day festival despite ministers introducing emergency legislation early next week to allow the cancellation of mass gatherings from next weekend.
The major escalation of the coronavirus crisis may puts key summer events such as the Glastonbury Festival, VE Day commemorations, Chelsea Flower Show, Wimbledon tennis championships, the Grand National and Royal Ascot under threat.
A number of European nations have responded to the outbreak by closing restaurants, bars and non-essential shops.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the UK had not 'ruled that out' as he vowed: 'We will stop at nothing to fight this virus.'
Adding: 'The measures that we are taking, the measures that we are looking at taking, are very, very significant and they will disrupt the ordinary lives of almost everybody in this country in order to tackle this virus.'
Photos of Britain's streets on Saturday night show an almost deserted central London amid the coronavirus outbreak.
With the Prime Minister announcing the Covid-19 virus spread as 'the worst public health crisis for a generation' and urging those with symptoms to stay indoors, the capital was decidedly quieter than normal this weekend.
The usually buzzing nightlife areas of Piccadilly, Soho and China Town, saw only a fraction of their usual visitors, many of whom can be seen wearing protective masks.
Last night France became the latest country to announce the closure of all non-essential public shops and venues after 91 deaths from the virus.
This follows the example of Italy which has been on lock down since Monday as the coronavirus death toll tops 1,000.
Although Britain is yet to take this measure the government has said it plans to deploy troops at hospitals and outside supermarkets as the epidemic worsens and panic grips the public.
In preparation for the worst-case scenario, defence sources told The Mail on Sunday that Army units were stepping up their training for public order roles.
If cases of the virus continue to rise in the UK the Royal Logistics Corps are set to be used to escort food convoys.
The Royal Army Medical Corps is also poised to build tented field hospitals next to care homes.
Troops trained in chemical, biological and nuclear warfare will deep-clean empty public buildings in case they need to be turned in to hospitals or morgues.
Soldiers would also be stationed outside supermarkets where startling scenes unfolded the country on Saturday as desperate shoppers gutted food and toilet roll aisles.
Britons are stockpiling as they prepare to bunker down in self-isolation after the the government issued new guidelines, advising anyone with a cough to stay at home for a week.
And whole families will be told to isolate themselves if just one member falls ill with coronavirus, the Sunday Telegraph reports.
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