The science behind the new rules in golf, tennis and angling

“This virus is quite transmissible through relatively casual contact, making this pathogen very hard to contain,” said James Lloyd-Smith, a co-author of the New England study and a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California. “If you’re touching items that someone else has recently handled, be aware they could be contaminated and wash your hands.”

Other experts, supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, do also suggest that the virus is likely to reduce in potency over time and so, although a person could get infected by touching a surface or object and then their mouth, nose, or eyes, it is unlikely to be the main way that the virus spreads. “If a virus lands on something like a chair or table, it starts dying pretty quick,” says Dr Esper. “We may be able to find some viable virus after a few days, but it is thousands of times less than what was originally deposited by the cough. As soon as the virus hits something that’s not alive and certainly not a human, it’s not going to do very well.” There is no limited evidence that might relate to clothing or other surfaces which are harder to disinfect, but the clear ability of the virus to linger for so long also reinforces the wider guidance on hand hygiene and regularly cleaning of surfaces.

The message for those returning sports is also clear. There is evidence in support of the new guidelines that have been created and, if you want to safely resume your passion, some adjustments make absolute sense.