The government's new Covid-19 restrictions, which were announced last night and which come into force on Monday (14th), have cast doubt on the legality of various types of social gatherings, including Parkruns.

On Monday (7th), Parkrun's Global CEO, Nick Pearson, announced his plans to reopen all English Parkrun events by the end of October, after agreeing with the government that the public health benefit of its weekly runs outweighed the low risk of Covid-19 transmission.

Insisting on the importance of the Parkrun initiative, Pearson said: "the public health benefits of parkrun events have been clear for many years, the last six months have increased inequalities around health and wellbeing, with many people more isolated and less active than ever in their life.

"Across many communities our events provide the most accessible and inclusive opportunities for people, of all abilities and backgrounds, to come together and be active."

Parkrun's return would mean that the Delamere 5k race, which normally begins every Saturday at 9am, 250m past the visitor centre, could return within the next few weeks.

However, the government's new measures will reduce the amount of people allowed to meet outside from 30 to just six, with exceptions for weddings, funerals and organised team sports.

Parkrun cannot be classed as a team sport, so will this development force their plans to change?

The Prime Minister will make a formal announcement at 4pm today (Wednesday 9th), where a fuller list of exemptions to the new rules will be made clear.