Outdoor meets and Covid-19: time to get back in business? Update 15th September 2020
On 10th September the BMC issued updated guidance on helping Clubs to restart meets (https://www.thebmc.co.uk/covid19-restarting-club-meets). Provided the Club follows the steps detailed by the BMC, organised Club meets may take place with more than 6 people attending (to an absolute maximum of 30 people). Importantly, the BMC have also noted that if Club members wish to head out in an informal way, the ‘rule of 6’ people in a group applies.
Your Committee is working hard considering the BMC guidance in detail. The current plan is to produce as simple guidance and documentation as is possible, which will allow us to recommence formal meets with more than 6 people going out together, provided they follow the guidance. The requirements for England, Wales and Scotland are also slightly different and must be accommodated. If you look at the BMC document it may seem daunting, but we hope that the guidance we develop will state clearly and simply the steps that need to be followed for formal day walking and climbing meets.
Given all the above, please be sympathetic to the cause of guidance/documentation development since it may take a little time. Having said all this, we must accept that the current situation in the UK is very fluid, Covid-19 infection rates are rising again and Government guidance could easily change in the meantime.
Andy Tomlinson
Vice President