Manchester strengthens its measures against the coronavirus eight days after receiving City-Real Madrid of the return of the knockout stages of the Champions League. The number of positives detected in the metropolitan area of the city and the suburbs has led the British Government to decree an almost total quarantine. Since midnight this Friday people from different households cannot be under the same roof, neither in houses nor in public places such as pubs or restaurants.
In the last week, they have been detected 689 cases in the region, what it means a 50 percent increase over the number of cases from the previous week. In one of the areas, the Tameside, the rate has multiplied by four. British Health Minister Matt Hancock issued a statement to explain the measure. “We made this decision with regret but unfortunately it is necessary because we are observing that social distances are not being met and that is one of the causes of the increase in cases.” The tightening of the quarantine will affect more towns in the north of England.
Real Madrid continues with its trip as planned because, for now, the exception for professional sports that allows athletes has not been revoked, the necessary personnel who accompany them (trainers, doctors, material managers …) and the media travel without passing the 14-day quarantine that the British government decreed last Saturday as a measure to stop the spread of the pandemic. Madrid can access the country because it will be in a special 'bubble', a security device that will have the team isolated from the same plane to the hotel and their presence at Etihad Stadium to face the City on August 7.
UEFA was always in favor of the match being played in Portugal, but Manchester's pressure made him change his mind and allow it to be played in Etihad.