U.K. TO BAN MASS GATHERINGS

The U.K. Government is expected to join many countries across Europe in placing a ban on mass gatherings to slow the spread of coronavirus.

There's no word on what size gatherings the ban will include, but there are clues elsewhere. In Scotland, the rule is for more than 500 people, while in Germany and France there’s a ban on events with over 1,000 people.

A government source told the BBC that ministers were drawing up plans for the ban, which could kick in as early as this weekend.

BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend is the first big festival to be cancelled in Blighty, and there's now a question mark over Glastonbury, which takes place at the end of June, as well as a long list of other summer festivals.

In Europe, Midem in France may have to be postponed, as well as Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, which are set to take place early June in Germany.

A leaked briefing from Public Health England has said the virus is expected to circulate for another 12 months and infect up to 80% of the British population, according to The Guardian. Experts say the infection will dip in the summer toward the end of June, and return in November. As of today, there are 1,391 cases of the virus in the U.K. and 35 deaths.

The Who and Carlos Santana have postponed their U.K. arena tours (March-April). Billie Eilish dates in July, My Chemical Romance dates in June, and Sam Fender's March-June tour are likely to be impacted.