Bowling News
The COVID Roadmap to Normality provides a 4-Step path back to living a normal life once more which, if everything continues to go to plan, should mean that on 21 June the route back will have been completed. That path moves on to Step 3 on Monday 17 May. An announcement is expected on 10 May (next Monday) as to what changes Step 3 will actually bring.
Each step on the Roadmap has to see expected targets met before that step can be implemented. Those targets are primarily around:
vaccination roll-out
reduced hospital admissions
reduced deaths
new variants of the infection are under control
All those currently appear to be on track so the expectation is that the bulk of the published changes in Step 3 will be delivered as from 17 May. That should include:
groups of up to six people and two households will be allowed to meet indoors, so people can enter each other's homes.
Pubs and restaurants can open indoors from May 17. At this point, the rule of six and two households rule will be introduced indoors. It will be lifted outdoors, meaning people will be able to meet in groups of up to 30 in beer gardens or when dining al fresco.
Also from May 17, university students will be able to return to face-to-face teaching on campus, replacing online lectures which have been in place for months.
Funerals will no longer be limited to 30 mourners from May 17, the Government announced on May 3. Instead the capacity would be determined by how many people could be accommodated in venues such as places of worship or funeral homes while maintaining social distancing.
Hotels and B&Bs can also open in step three, as can indoor sports and gym classes.
Entertainment venues can open too, including cinemas and theatres. New rules will be in place for different sizes of venues.
Normal outdoor events can open for up to 4,000 people or 50 per cent of the venue capacity, whichever is smaller.
Similarly normal indoor events can open for up to 1,000 people or 50 per cent capacity, again whichever is lower.
For huge outdoor seated venues, there is a special limit. Up to 10,000 attendees will be allowed or 25 per cent capacity, whichever is lower. This means, for example, Wembley Stadium will be able to open with 10,000 fans attending.
The ban on overseas holidays is expected to end on May 17, in the first step to reviving foreign travel. It will no longer be illegal to go abroad from that date, meaning summer holidays overseas will be allowed, with a traffic light system for countries to be introduced.
What that means for bowling is still to be clarified by the BCGBA but is likely to cover:
clubs will be able to open their bars to inside customers
hospitality for match bowlers can be provided
green pavilions will reopen
social distancing of 1 metre will still be enforced
spectators will be allowed at bowls matches
car sharing rules may be relaxed
Track & Trace controls are still likely to be required
Looking forward to Step 4 when we should see the bulk of the remaining controls and restrictions lifted and the target date for that is 21 June 2021. Meanwhile, we wait and see what Boris will announce on Monday.