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McGill: Opening club dressing rooms and gyms "doesn't make any sense"

The GAA's Director of Player, Club, and Games Administration says it doesn't make any sense to open...


McGill: Opening club dressing...

Sport

McGill: Opening club dressing rooms and gyms "doesn't make any sense"


The GAA's Director of Player, Club, and Games Administration says it doesn't make any sense to open up indoor club facilities right now. 

While clubs have returned to their training pitches, their gyms and dressing rooms remain shut.

Public gyms around Ireland have begun opening, but following a meeting of GAA's Covid Advisory Group on Monday, it was decided to keep indoor amenities closed after July 20.

Handball alleys will be allowed to reopen from July 20, provided users adhere to the guidance and control measures outlined in the GAA Handball Return to Play Document.

Club bars that don't serve food will also be allowed to reopen from Monday-week.

"One of the key parts of our control measures around keeping clubs safe is trying to keep players outdoors as much as possible," said Fergal McGill.

"The reason for that is you are 19 times more likely to contract the virus indoors than you are outdoors.

"Purely from a common sense basis it doesn't make any sense for the GAA to open dressing rooms or gyms at this stage.

"The other reason it lessens massively the possibility of a player being considered a close contact.

"If they have only been undertaking activities that are outdoors it lessens massively a player being considered a close contact if one of his teammates or one of the backroom personnel happens to test positive."

McGill added, "To the best of our knowledge nobody has contracted Covid due to GAA activity.

"Where GAA players or members have contracted Covid, it appears to be outside of GAA activity. That is hugely encouraging.

"It means, and I don't want to speak too soon, but our control measures appear to be working. We do realise it is an inconvenience to people that dressing rooms can't open, but there is good common sense behind that.

"It is designed to ensure that clubs are able to complete their fixtures and that no club is placed into lockdown."



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Coronavirus Covid-19 Fergal McGill GAA

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