The Government today unveiled its medium term plan for Living with Covid-19. 

The ‘framework for restrictive measures’ consists of five levels.

The lower levels will be activated when there is low incidence of the disease, with isolated outbreaks, low community transmission.

The higher levels will be used to deal with higher incidences of the disease.

What are the implications of the plan for sport?

The restrictions in the plan run from the most benign level – Level 1 – where up to 500 spectators can attend events at outdoor venues with a capacity of 5,000 to Level 5, where no matches will take place, collective training will be banned and all gyms and swimming pools will be closed. 

At present, the country is placed at Level 2 of the plan, though Taoiseach Micheál Martin indicated that Dublin could move to Level 3 if the virus is not controlled. 

As per the Level 2 guidelines, the Government confirmed that crowds of 200 will now be allowed attend matches at venues with a capacity which exceeds 5,000. The 200 spectators limit does not include players, management, staff, officials or media.

Venues that do not hold 5,000 can allow in 100 spectators.

Though Dublin is still officially operating by ‘Level 2’ guidelines, the greater ‘200’ number does not apply there with only 100 currently allowed attend regardless of the capacity of the venue. 

The Government said that large stadiums will see specific guidance developed with the relevant bodies using the facilities, taking account of size and different conditions of the venues.

However, Mr Martin said that “nothing specific in terms of numbers” had been mooted for these large stadiums yet.  

Up to 200 people will be allowed attend sporting events from tomorrow, under Level 2 of the Government’s roadmap, the Taoiseach has said | Follow live updates: https://t.co/BnPgAzVvVh pic.twitter.com/dTfHQSgYnh

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 15, 2020

Here’s a rundown of the restrictions that would apply to sport under each level of the Covid-19 plan.

Level 1

• Normal training sessions and games can take place indoors and outdoors with protective measures. 
• For most venues, a maximum of 100 patrons can attend.
• Up to 200 patrons are allowed for larger venues where strict 2 metre seated social distancing and one-way controls for entry and exit can be implemented.
• Up to 500 patrons can attend outdoor stadia or other fixed outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000.
• For very large stadiums and very large purpose built event facilities, specific guidance will be developed.

Level 2

• Outdoor training can take place in pods of up to 15 (exemption for professional / elite / inter-county sports / senior club championship).
• Indoor training exercise and dance classes can take place in pods of up to 6 inside (exemption for professional / elite / inter-county sports / senior club championship).
• Up to 100 patrons are permitted for the majority of venues.
• Up to 200 patrons for outdoor stadia or other fixed outdoor venues with a minimum accredited capacity of 5,000.
• For very large purpose-built event facilities specific guidance will be developed with the relevant sectors to take account of size and different conditions for larger events.

Level 3

• For outdoor sports, non-contact training only in pods of up to 15 will be allowed (exemption for professional / elite / inter-county sports / senior club championship).
• For indoors sports, there will be individual training only and no exercise or dance classes.No matches or events to take place.
• There will be an exemption for professional / elite / inter-county / club championship / horse-racing which can take place behind closed doors.
• Gyms / leisure centres / swimming pools open with protective measures, for individual training only.
• These can open with protective measures, for individual training only.

Level 4

• For outdoor training, non-contact training can take place but only in pods of up to 15.
• Indoors, individual training only. No exercise or dance classes can take place.
• No matches or events to take place.
• (Exemption: Professional and elite sport / inter-county / senior club championship / horse-racing can take place behind closed doors.) Gyms / leisure centres / swimming pools closed.

Level 5

• For sports, individual training only.
• No exercise or dance classes. No matches or events to take place. Gyms / leisure centres / swimming pools closed.