The latest easing of Covid restrictions in Ireland came into play on Friday gone, 22 October. But what does it mean for the world of Gaelic games and live sport in general?
From a GAA point of view, a number of changes have kicked in north and south of the border in particular around health questionnaires, access to dressing rooms, travel to games, quarantine, contact tracing, trophy presentation and the use of club facilities.
You can read the finer details here but we’ve summarised them below for you.
Attendance at games
- Venue capacities up to 100%, though urged to make the increase gradual
- Risk assessment required for increasing venue capacities in Northern Ireland
- Facemasks recommended at all games, regardless of venue
Dressing rooms, showers and gyms
- Showers and changing rooms allowed if all individuals are fully vaccinated
- Showers and changing rooms capped to pods of 6 at a time where individuals have mixed immunity
- Team-talks (where possible) to take place outdoors
- Hand sanitising stations required, masks to be worn
- Entry for team personnel only
- Gym use limited to pods of 6 for mixed immunity; restrictions do not apply where all users have full immunity
- If more than 15 people using gym facility in Northern Ireland, a risk assessment is required
Health questionnaires and travel
- Health questionnaires no longer required before training or games
- Individuals should not attend training, games, meetings, club activites if displaying any Covid-10 symptoms 48 hours prior to activity
- Attendance records to be kept for contact traicing
- No more capacity limits on transport, though protective measures should be in place (mask wearing etc)
- Pod system for car pooling to games/training
- Quarantining based on government requirements at the time following travel abroad
Indoor meetings
- Continuing online where possible is being suggested.
- Meetings can take place indoors for those considered immune with consideration also given to venue size, duration of use and ventilation.
- Where immunity status is mixed, meetings can take place in pods of six (multiple, based on size of venue and social distancing)
Other club facilities
- Club bars in both jurisdictions should follow the relevant guidelines for the sector.
- Indoor bingo permitted where all patrons are considered immune (fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 within previous six months) – all must be seated
- Indoor halls used for sports, presentations, art, culture or dance activites can have full capacity with protective measures in place and use of EU Digital Covid Certificate – where participants are considered immune.
- As above but for mixed immunity status, multiple pods of six can use the space.
- Risk assessments are required for facitily usage in Northern Ireland except in case where participant numbers are less than 15.
Water breaks and trophy presentations
- Water breaks are staying for the remainder of all games in 2021
- Trophies to be lifted by team captains only and not handed or presented to captains.
- Trophies stay in presentation area after speeches, photo opportunities to be arrange separately.
- Trophies retained by County Committee until further date.
