Dozens of celebrities and royals along with hundreds more Cheltenham Festival racegoers could have been infected with coronavirus, it was feared today.
Camilla’s ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles today joined a growing list of famous names thought to have caught the virus at the event held from March 10 and 13, including comedian Lee Mack and West Bromwich Albion footballer Charlie Austin.
Fans were packed into the stands at the world-famous festival with no protection despite fears over the spread of the virus which was then in its early stages in Britain – which is now leading to worries that it could have been a hotbed for the infection.
There are also now further concerns for members of the Royal Family, with Brigadier Parker Bowles in close contact over two days he spent at the event with Camilla, Princess Anne, her daughter Zara Tindall and son-in-law Mike Tindall.
More than 250,000 people walked in through the gates across the four days – and hundreds of them have claimed online that they have since developed symptoms.
The news will raise fears that more people at the event at Cheltenham Racecourse in Gloucestershire could have been infected – some without even knowing.
It has also raised further criticism over why the event went ahead, with Twitter users saying the organisers ‘need to be held to account’ over the decision not to cancel – and prompted more questions on why Ministers did not ban sports event sooner.
Other celebrity attendees who are believed to be in good health include singer Lily Allen, TV presenter Nick Knowles, actor Ben Miller, cyclist Victoria Pendleton, tennis coach Judy Murray and cricketer Jonny Bairstow and reality TV star Georgia Toffolo.
Anyone who attended the festival and caught the virus would have had it by now, given that the event finished three weeks ago and the incubation period is 14 days.
However anyone carrying it – whether or not they knew – could have gone on and infected more people, with patients spreading the virus to two others on average.
It went ahead just two weeks before the lockdown on March 23 – with several high-profile names fearing they caught the virus there, with up to 60,000 attendees daily.
Racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks has also revealed fears that he got the virus at the site – as do two racecourse workers, Andrew Maclean and Scott Saunders.
Andrew Parker Bowles has coronavirus and believes he caught it at the Cheltenham Festival. He is pictured there with Princess Anne. He is pictured there with her on March 10
Andrew Parker Bowles (left) with Zara Tindall (centre) and Princess Anne (right) on day one of the Cheltenham Festival on March 10
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Andrew Parker Bowles at the Festival on March 11
Andrew Parker Bowles (right) with Anne and trainer Nicky Henderson (left) on March 11
Comedian Lee Mack is thought to have contracted coronavirus at the Cheltenham Festival. The 51-year-old star is pictured at a previous event in Gloucestershire on March 17, 2016
West Bromwich Albion footballer Charlie Austin (left, pictured with a fan on March 10 at the racecourse) believes he contracted coronavirus at Cheltenham last month
Racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks also fears he got the virus at Cheltenham. He is seen at a previous festival in Gloucestershire on March 14, 2012
A third worker, a former footballer in Wales who only wished to be known as Jason, also fears he contracted the infection while employed at the festival.
There was huge debate at the time of the Festival over whether it should go ahead, especially with dozens of other sports events being cancelled due to the pandemic.
These included Premier League football matches, England’s cricket tour of Sri Lanka and Formula One races – all called off on March 13, the last day of Cheltenham.
Hundreds more people who attended the festival have also taken to social media to claim they contracted the virus while at the event between March 10 and 13.
While most of them have not been tested and cannot prove where they picked up their illness, dozens claim they only started showing symptoms after the event.
Last night, Duchess of Cornwall’s former husband Andrew Parker Bowles revealed he had coronavirus and said he believes he contracted it at the festival.
(left to right) Zara Tindall, Timothy Laurence, Princess Anne, Natalie Pinkham and Dolly Maude at Cheltenham on March 13. None of them are thought to have contracted the virus
Zara Tindall (left) and Archie McCoy, son of AP McCoy, at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 11
Lily Allen celebrates during day four of the Cheltenham Festival at the racecourse on March 13
Gareth Locke, Ollie Locke, Josh Cuthbert and Georgia Toffolo at Cheltenham on March 13
Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall during day four of the Cheltenham Festival on March 13
TV presenter Nick Knowles poses with police officers at the Cheltenham Festival on March 13
Actor Ben Miller arrives for day four of the Cheltenham Festival at the racecourse on March 13
Skeleton racer Amy Williams (left) and cyclist Victoria Pendleton (centre) on March 13
The Princess Royal and Timothy Laurence arriving for day four of Cheltenham on March 13
England cricketer Jonny Bairstow chats to fellow racegoers at Cheltenham on March 13
Tennis coach Judy Murray, and Andy’s mother, arrives for the Cheltenham Festival on March 13
The 80-year-old retired Army officer was seen in close contact with members of the Royal Family including Princess Anne and her daughter Zara.
But Brigadier Parker Bowles told the Daily Telegraph that he was told he would not have been contagious until the Monday after he attended, March 16.
He said: ‘I’ve felt pretty bloody awful with it. It’s better in the mornings and gets worse as the day goes on. I’ve had a bad cough and I’ve been very lethargic. I’m sleeping twice as long as normal.’
When asked if it should have gone ahead, he said: ‘To be honest it was optional whether we went. At the time the Underground was running full of people.
‘You can’t blame Cheltenham. To be fair attendance was 10 per cent down but I do know quite a few people who picked it up there.’
Despite concerns about the illness prior to the races taking place, Zara was seen hugging, kissing and shaking hands with other racegoers – while her husband Mike Tindall happily posed for pictures with fans.
Camilla was also at the event, although tested negative for the virus. Her husband Prince Charles tested positive, but has now recovered from a ‘mild’ form of the illness.
Comedian Lee Mack also suffered symptoms of coronavirus after attending the event, and is believed to have contracted it from his driver who took him there.
The 51-year-old Not Going Out star, whose real name is Lee Gordon McKillop, attended the races for Ladies Day and for St Patrick’s Day.
A spokesman later told the Independent: ‘Lee has not been tested for this virus, but has been feeling unwell for 10 days now and he and his family have been completely self-isolating.
‘He said the worst symptom so far is the avalanche of jokes about him Not Going Out. He laughed on day one but now it’s day ten it’s becoming a struggle.’
Footballer Charlie Austin spoke out on the horrors of the coronavirus just days after visiting the Cheltenham Festival.
The 30-year-old striker had to self-isolate at home and have no contact with his family after suffering symptoms.
Austin told the Telegraph: ‘I felt like someone had chucked a bucket of water over me. I was soaking.’
Hundreds of people who attended the festival have also taken to social media to claim they contracted the virus while at the event between March 10 and 13
Social media users have been taking to Twitter over the past 24 hours saying Cheltenham should have been cancelled, saying the organisers ‘need to be held to account’
More than 250,000 people went to the Cheltenham Festival last month – pictured on March 13
Racegoers celebrated and hug each other after a race on March 13 at the Cheltenham Festival
Thousands of people attended the festival in Gloucestershire, pictured above on March 13
Crowds during day four of the festival at the racecourse in Gloucestershire on March 13
Austin had initially told his family that if anyone got the virus he hoped it would be him, adding: ‘I felt like I was fit and healthy and I could handle it.
‘A week later and I would say to anyone, even those in their 20s and 30s – ‘Don’t take it lightly – it’s serious’.
The Baggies said Austin had not been tested for the virus, with the club doctor telling him to isolate himself within a bedroom where his temperature soared to 39.7C.
He has since made a full recovery, but had to advise his wife to leave food and drinks outside of his room whilst he was suffering.
Meanwhile racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks wrote in the Telegraph over the weekend that he believes he contracted coronavirus at Cheltenham.
He said: ‘Apologies for this column being a week late. I have been in bed with a high fever, continuous cough and aches and pains, which naturally I put down to the excesses of Cheltenham week.
‘But I may have misdiagnosed. Dr Lucy says that its odds-on I have Covid-19.
‘So I have had plenty of time to reflect on whether I was a selfish berk for attending the Festival – as have my entire family, who have duly voted ‘positive’ on that.’
The organisers of the Cheltenham Festival decided to go ahead with this year’s event with extra wash basins and hand sanitiser stations.
There were also numerous signs reminding racegoers to wash their hands in an attempt to stop the spread of germs.
Some attendees also took extra measures to try and protect themselves from the illness by donning face masks.
A Jockey Club and Cheltenham Festival spokesman said: ‘The festival went ahead under Government guidance to do so, like other sports events at Twickenham, Murrayfield, 10 Premier League matches and the UEFA Champions League, all with full houses that same week.
‘We promoted the latest public health advice and introduced a range of additional hygiene measures at the event including hundreds of hand sanitiser dispensers and extra washbasins, which worked well.’
MailOnline has contacted the British Horseracing Authority for comment today.
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates on Al Boum Photo after the Gold Cup Chase on March 13
Jockey Paul Townend celebrates after the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase on March 13
Racegoers using hand sanitiser dispensers due to the coronavirus at Cheltenham on March 13
This graphic based on a study in China last month shows how a man infected with coronavirus spread it to nine other people on his bus. The virus was able to transfer from the man two other victims sitting 4.5 metres away, as well as to a patient 30 minutes after the man got off the bus
Some within the events industry have also pointed out that it is not possible to know the circumstances of how anyone has contracted coronavirus.
The illness can spread between people just through coughs and sneezes, making it an extremely contagious infection. And it may also spread even before someone has symptoms.
It is believed to travel in the saliva and even through water in the eyes, therefore close contact, kissing, and sharing cutlery or utensils are all risky.
It can also live on surfaces, such as plastic and steel, for up to 72 hours, meaning people can catch it by touching contaminated surfaces.