Sporting bodies need to contest the new Covid outdoor rule of only 15 on a pitch

With the regard to sport, the Northern Ireland executive has said that from April 12 only 15 adults can train on one pitch at a time.

Any opening is to be celebrated but this rule will disadvantage clubs with only one pitch or where the coach is not able to take successive sessions.

Exactly why 15 per pitch was seen as the golden ratio remains a mystery.

A recent study from the Republic of Ireland showed that only 0.1% of Covid transmission occurred in outdoor settings and only 0.05% occurred in sport settings.

If ‘follow the science’ is a sincere mantra then it is pointing quite clearly to a return to normality on the sports field.

Sporting bodies such as Ulster GAA and Ulster Rugby need to stand up for their members and contest this policy.

Dominic Gallagher, Glenavy, Antrim

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor