Hi

Please see below a summary of the latest changes to the COVID safety protocols

Health Questionnaires There is no longer a requirement for participants to complete Health Questionnaires before training or games – however it is important to remember that individuals should not attend training, games, meetings or any other activities if they are displaying, or have had within the previous 48 hours, any of the possible symptoms of Covid-19 (high temperature, a new continuous cough, unexplained shortness of breath, loss of sense of smell, taste or distortion of taste, headache, runny nose, sore throat or sneeze).

It is also essential that records of attendance are maintained to assist with contact tracing if required.

Dressing Rooms where all individuals are vaccinated the full use of showers and changing rooms is permitted. However it is advised that time spent in dressing rooms or showers should be kept to a minimum and that where possible, pre-game or half time team talks should take place outdoors.

Where individuals have mixed immunity status the use of Dressing Rooms and Showers should remain pod based (with usage in groups of no more than 6 at any time).

Where dressing rooms are being used, hand sanitization stations should be in place at the entrance, the areas should be well ventilated (i.e. windows or doors left open), masks should be worn (except if using showers) and no one other than team or support personnel should be permitted entry.

Clubs should continue to promote hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette through signage, posters etc. and deep cleaning of shared areas should be carried out on a regular basis.

Use of Gyms In the South the use of GAA owned Gyms will continue to be permitted in pods of up to 6 participants at a time (excluding coaches). Where groups have full immunity (i.e. fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 within the previous 6 months) the provision for pods of 6 does not apply.

Water Breaks For the remainder of 2021, Water breaks will remain in place for all games,

Indoor meetings Clubs and Counties should continue to give consideration to conducting online meetings where possible.

Where indoor meetings are being organised, in the South, club and county committee meetings (including County Conventions, AGM’s etc.) can take place indoors once all participants are considered immune (i.e. fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 within the previous 6 months). Consideration should be given to room densities, meeting durations and ventilation when planning such events.

Where participants have mixed immunity status, indoor meetings must be conducted in pods of 6 people with the overall number of pods having regard to the size of venue and with substantial social distancing in place between individual pods. To any independent onlooker it should be clear that pods are completely separate groups operating independent of one another, with no interaction or sharing of equipment and no opportunity for them to mix or stray into one another’s group or meeting space.

The organiser must also take all reasonable measures to limit the risk of transmission of the virus.

A person responsible for organising a gathering must, if requested to do so by a relevant person, provide:

• a copy of the risk assessment, and
• an account of the reasonable measures taken

Indoor meetings of15 people or fewer in the 6 Counties do not need a risk assessment.

The use of masks in all indoor settings continues to be recommended

Use of Indoor Halls (for sports, presentations, art, culture or dance activities) In the South, where all participants are considered immune (fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 within the previous 6 months) use of Halls is permitted without capacity limits (appropriate protective measures should be in place). The use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate (vaccine or recovery certificate) will be required for access in such circumstances.

Where patrons have mixed immunity status, multiple pods of up to 6 participants will be permitted to use indoor halls for sports activities, subject to protective measures being in place. The overall number of pods will have regard to the size of venue and there should be substantial social distance between individual pods.

The provision for a risk assessment does not apply if less than 15 people will be in attendance.

Bingo Clubs organizing indoor Bingo or similar events in the South should note that these can take place where all patrons are considered immune (fully vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 within previous 6 months), or accompanied minors (under 18), in line with sectoral guidance. All attendees must be seated.

Club Bars Club bars in both jurisdictions should follow the relevant guidelines for the sector.

The foregoing restrictions are likely to remain in place into the early months of 2022.