Thriplow Daffodil Weekend cancelled due to coronavirus risk

Thriplow Daffodil Weekend has been cancelled due to the risk of transmitting the coronavirus.

The popular event, which is attended by thousands travelling from across the country, had been due to take place on March 28 and 29.

Committee chairman Paul Earnshaw said: “It is with very deep regret that we have taken the decision to cancel Thriplow Daffodil Weekend this year. There are several compelling reasons for this:

• Although the event is predominantly outdoors, there are areas where close indoor contact is unavoidable (tea rooms, the church, coaches, minibuses etc) which give rise to a significant risk of transmission;

• The demographic of our visitors means we have a much larger proportion of people in high-risk groups;
• We do not want to run the risk of infecting anyone in the village;
• It is likely that visitor numbers will be severely impacted as people make their own judgments about the risks of attending public events
• Cancelling early limits the financial impact for us as a village and also for stallholders and others gearing up for the event.”

He added: “Obviously this is very disappointing and it was a very difficult decision to take. The pros and cons were debated at length by the daffodil committee and other key stakeholders, and while opinion was divided, we concluded that based on the balance of probabilities, we should cancel now rather than waiting for an official change in government policy.

“We are now working hard to mitigate the impact of this decision which will be significant for stallholders, coach companies, ticket holders etc many of whom have a long history of supporting Daffodil Weekend. We have already agreed that this year's nominated charities will be rolled over to next year.

“I would like to thank everyone for the enormous amount of work they have already put in. Daffodil Weekend will be back next year. In the meantime, please look after yourselves and others and enjoy our wonderful display of daffodils.”

A third death in the UK has been confirmed yesterday (Sunday March 9).

The man in his 60s, who was being treated at the North Manchester General Hospital, is understood to have had significant underlying health conditions.

Some 280 people in the UK have tested positive for Covid-19 as of Monday morning (March 9), with more than 23,500 tests conducted.

A regional breakdown on Sunday morning (March 8) showed no reported cases in Cambridgeshire, but one in Peterborough, and 23 across the East of England.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to chair an emergency Cobra meeting today to discuss the country’s response to the outbreak.

Amid panic buying at supermarkets, Tesco has begun limiting online sales of baked beans, dry pasta and UHT milk. Some retailers have placed restrictions on the amount of soap and anti-bacterial wipes customers can buy, as shelves are emptied by shoppers.

Read more

Inside the Cambridge lab in pole position to create a new coronavirus vaccine