Mass gatherings could be banned in the UK from as early as next weekend as the outbreak of coronavirus intensifies.
A government source said ministers were drawing up plans for the move - to ease pressure on emergency services.
Scores of major sporting and cultural events have already been cancelled across the country in response to the pandemic.
The number of confirmed cases of the virus in the UK rose to 798 on Friday and a total of 11 people have died.
It is understood that ministers are working with the government's chief scientific adviser and chief medical adviser on plans to stop various types of public events.
The source said: "There are many complex considerations to make all these measures as effective as possible.
"We will make the right decisions at the right time based on the best scientific evidence."
There has been criticism of the government's handling of the crisis, including from former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who described its previous decision to hold off cancelling large gatherings as "concerning".
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