With the world still coming to grips with the effects of the Novel Coronavirus, countries have begun reintegrating sports under various guidelines.
Newly appointed Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., yesterday confirmed that there will be an assessment in relation to how sports will be reintroduced.
He acknowledged that there is currently a COVID-19 guideline gazetted recently with restrictions extended to the end of the month, one of which is a ban on sporting activities.
“There is going to be an assessment as to if sports can open up or not but that would be for the next COVID guideline
“It’s something we want to be able to assess once we get an assessment of the overall infection rate in the country and also how deadly is the disease for us,” he added.
However, Ramson Jr., pointed out that there are a lot of persons who refuse to adhere to the guidelines while others do.
He pointed out a community where basketball was still being played religiously in the streets.
Nevertheless, Ramson Jr., declared that his ministry was responsible for national centers and those are the ones that can be controlled and guided from his ministry.
“As far as the national centers are concerned that’s under our control so that’s something we could immediately enforce, for example swimming there is no swimming happening at the Liliendaal Aquatic Center,” Ramson stated.
“Part of what we are going to be doing is examining what sports can proceed and what can’t. The ones that obviously can’t proceed immediately are the contact sports. Until we have figured out what the situation is like in the country as it relates to our health risk, because our first priority is we don’t want anyone else to die…”
He highlighted the fact that the Ministry of Health had already begun consistently delivering information on the COVID-19 situation and has boosted the number of tests being done. As a result, Ramson Jr., said the information will form the basis of what will be discussed during the assessment.
He is of the view that some sports such as tennis and swimming can be reintegrated sooner than others.
On the other hand, Ramson argued that the facilities will need to be adjusted in order to facilitate the requirements necessary to combat the virus.
“The problem I have is what happens when you go into the changing room and if that’s going to happen then you have to be strict from the point of view of what happens after the sports, like are you going to wear your mask when you go and shower what happens, because some of the facilities have showers because they are just open stalls,” he stated.
