BREAKING: Varsity cancelled due to coronavirus

Varsity has been cancelled due to the coronavirus crisis.

Every fixture has been axed after the government advised against all “non-essential” social contact and large gatherings last night.

All classes at the Uni of Sheffield and Hallam are cancelled and being delivered online as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to sweep the globe.

Varsity 2020 said in a statement: “In light of the updated advice from the Government related to COVID-19, we have made the difficult decision to cancel all Varsity 2020 fixtures with immediate effect, in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our staff and students.

“We will be offering refunds, but there may be a delay while your Student Union puts in a process for this. Please be patient while this is organised, and please be reassured that you will be able to claim a refund on all purchased tickets.”

Thousands of students were readying to sport black and gold or burgundy for the annual clash between Sheffield’s unis, with the ice hockey final seen as one of the biggest events in the Sheff student calendar. It is unclear

Universities across Britain are in shut down mode with only basic services open and many students have gone home after Prime Minister Boris Johnson drastically ramped up measures to fight the illness on Monday night.

All Brits have been urged to follow social distancing steps such as avoiding pubs, clubs, restaurants, working from home, seeking medical advice remotely and steering clear of public transport.

In Sheffield, the Arts Tower remains in lockdown with ten floors shut after a member of staff tested positive for the illness. Some students at Uni of and Hallam are self-isolating, in line with Public Health England advice as officials warn Britain is braced for several months of chaos.

Sporting events including Euro 2020 and English league football have also been cancelled.

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