ELITE football will continue during the third national lockdown.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the tighter restrictions this evening in a bid to get the rising number of coronavirus cases under control.

But like the second lockdown in November, Oxford United and Oxford City will be able to carry on playing behind closed doors, along with the rest of elite sport.

Elite football includes the Premier League, EFL and the Vanarama National Leagues.

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But the game at grassroots level will remain on hold, with academies also not allowed to play on.

Elsewhere, non-elite outdoor team sports are not permitted, while golf courses, tennis courts and outdoor gyms will close.

United's first-team squad were swabbed this morning as part of a round of mandatory Covid testing across the EFL.

Across the three football league divisions, there have been 52 fixtures postponed due to coronavirus this season.