AMATEUR sports have been given another sucker punch with this evening’s announcement of a return to full Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions.
Professional, elite sports, horse racing, greyhound racing and approved equestrian events only are permitted to continue behind closed doors.
However no other matches or events are allowed to take place.
An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, announced the reimposition of Level 5 measures this evening in a televised address from government buildings.
Hopes of a start for local soccer leagues, for example, have been hit with those organisations needing to be at Level 2 before their games can proceed.
Golf and tennis, which had been permitted under the previously-revised measures, will have to cease from tomorrow.
Under the full Level 5 restrictions, which have been published by the government this evening, there are to be no indoor or outdoor exercise group activities.
The publication states that these are now ‘including those involving children’.
Under previous restrictions, underage training in pods of 15 was allowed, but this will also be out of bounds until at least the end of January.
Gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools have to shut from the close of business tomorrow, December 31.
People are permitted to meet people from one other household in outdoor setting when exercising.
Martin said: “The actions that we are taking as a society and as individuals is saving lives.
“We will repair the damage to our society. We will make sense of the trauma that we have all been through in due course.
“Right now, this is what we must do: We must stay at home and eliminate contact with others now to ensure as many of our people are still with us to enjoy the better days that are up ahead.”
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