September 10, 2020The Government is to reduce the number of people that can attend business and sporting events to pilot the safe return of spectators to 1,000 in light of the increase in the number of positive coronavirus cases.
The change came into effect from 11 September for all sports pilots due to happen this month.
The Government has annoucned that it will keep under review whether fans will be able to return to sports stadia from 1 October and if people can attend socially distanced business conferences and events.
Organised grassroots sport will be able to continue in a COVID-secure way to help people stay fit and healthy. This includes organised team sports, Parkrun and exercise classes in gyms and leisure centres.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “In light of increasing transmission rates, the Government is reviewing the proposed sports and business events pilots ahead of the 1 October and we will unfortunately need to scale some back.
“We know fans and audiences are eager to return, and jobs depend on this too, so work continues around the clock on the moonshot project with the ambition of having audiences back much closer to normal by Christmas, if safe to do so.”
Guidance has been produced in consultation with the Sports Ground Safety Authority to set out the strict measures that test events must follow to limit the spread of coronavirus.
This includes upholding social distancing in queues, minimising the risk of any pinch points or crowding and recording people’s data to assist NHS Test and Trace.
