President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), Hilbert Foster has welcomed the government’s decision to allow the restart of sport events during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic but cautioned that the virus is still very much a serious area of concern.
Foster made the comments following the government’s announcement of the new COVID – 19 measures which allow for sport events to be organised once approval is sought and granted by the Ministry of Health.
“I am sure that all cricket clubs and cricketers are excited about the government’s decision to allow the restart of sporting activities subject to the approval of the Minister of Health. We must remember that the COVID-19 virus is still a major problem in Guyana and our daily cases are still very high,” Foster said via a press release.
Foster assured that any consideration of his board resuming cricket in Berbice will be taken seriously and all safety measures will be designed and enforced.
“The executives of the Berbice Cricket Board would be very grateful in making a decision about the restart of the cricket season and would be meeting next week to make a decision. We would have to make numerous decisions to safeguard our players, umpires, and officials. A decision would also have to be made concerning the entry of spectators into the venue and social distancing in the pavilion etc.”
The measures, which were published in the Official Gazette on Friday, will take effect from today until November 30 unless earlier terminated, extended or amended by notice of the Minister of Health after an assessment of the prevailing public health options.
All sporting activities in Guyana came to a halt in early March after the country recorded its first case and death of COVID-19. The gyms and all sports facilities remained closed since and the COVID-19 cases have since skyrocketed to over 4,000 in seven months with 125 deaths.
