Member Update 22

MEMBER UPDATE

The Welsh Assembly Government has recently provided more details on its plans over the coming weeks and months and I have attached a useful document outlining the important dates that affect us all in boxing and for your club. I have also included some text below, if you wish to see the detail.

The First Minister again set out the priority placed on ensuring all children and students in Wales will return to face-to-face education on Monday 12 April. All remaining non-essential retail and close contact services will be allowed to reopen from Monday 12 April, while the rules will also be changed to allow travel into and out of Wales from the rest of the United Kingdom and Common Travel Area. Changes remain subject to public health conditions continuing to remain favourable. The Welsh Government is also signalling further changes it aims to confirm at the 22 April review, subject to public health conditions and final confirmation by Ministers, which would see outdoor attractions and outdoor hospitality reopen, including cafes, pubs and restaurants on Monday 26 April.

By early May, plans include allowing organised outdoor activities for up to 30 people to take place, and for gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities to reopen for individual or one-to-one training but not exercise classes. The changes continue the Welsh Government’s planned, step-by-step approach to relaxing the coronavirus restrictions, taking account of the highly-infectious Kent variant, which is now the dominant form of the virus in Wales. The public health situation in Wales continues to improve. The number of cases of coronavirus in our communities is generally falling and pressure on the NHS is easing. First Minister, Mark Drakeford said: “Thanks to a real team effort across Wales, coronavirus cases remain stable, and the vaccination programme continues apace. As a result, the Welsh Government has the headroom to continue its careful, step-by-step approach to relaxing restrictions. The review we have concluded this week, means we can continue with our programme of further re-opening of the economy and loosening the restrictions in place.”

Should public health conditions remain favourable:

From Monday 12th April, the following relaxations can go ahead:

  • The full return of children to schools for face-to-face education, all post-16 learners will return to further education and training centres, and university campus’ will be able to open for blended face-to-face/online learning for all students;

  • All remaining shops can reopen, completing the phased reopening of non-essential retail;

  • All remaining close contact services can open, including mobile services;

  • Travel restrictions on traveling into and out of Wales will be lifted. However, restrictions on travel to countries outside the Common Travel Area without a reasonable excuse, remain in place. The Common Travel Area means the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland;

  • Viewings at wedding venues can resume by appointment;

  • Outdoor canvassing for elections can begin.

On Monday 26 April:                                                                     

  • Outdoor attractions, including funfairs and theme parks, would be allowed to reopen;

  • Outdoor hospitality can resume, including cafes, pubs and restaurants. Indoor hospitality will remain restricted.

  • Organised outdoor activities for up to 30 people can again take place;

  • Weddings receptions can take place outdoors, but will also be limited to 30 people.

On Monday 3rd May:

  • Gyms, leisure centres and fitness facilities can reopen. This will include individual or one-to-one training but not exercise classes;

  • Extended household will again allow two households to meet and have contact indoors.

The reopening/resumption of the following, from the first week of the new cycle, i.e. Monday 17 May:

  • Children’s indoor activities.

  • Community centres;

  • Organised indoor activities for adults, limited to a maximum of 15 people. This includes exercise classes.

These are indicative dates to give the sectors time to plan and prepare –decisions on these will be made nearer the time, once the impact of other relaxations have been assessed and subject to the health situation allowing the relaxations to go ahead.

Regards,

Colin Metson

Chief Executive Officer

Amy Garrett