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One of Ireland’s leading infectious disease specialists,
Prof Sam McConkey, has said many sports may return in the Republic faster than
people think, including cycling.
He could not envisage contact sports, including rugby,
soccer and Gaelic games, returning quickly. But he believed other sports may
soon be up and running again.
"It will be sport-specific," Prof McConkey has told the Irish Independent of the Covid19 measures being lifted.
"Take rugby. Physical contact is so intrinsic in
rugby, in rucking and tackling and scrummaging... it's really hard to envisage
a sport like rugby with social distancing in place.
"I see that things like tennis, single-handed
sailing, golf, fishing, cycling and running are all likely to start fairly
quickly.”
However those sports were “aggressive” forms of contact
were part of the action were a different matter, he said.
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Prof McConkey is the head of the Department of
International Health and Tropical Medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons.
As an infectious disease specialist he has been
monitoring the Covid19 outbreak in Ireland and has been commenting on its
various stages and spread.
At present all cycling events – including sportives and
races – are suspended until at least May 5th, in line with all other sports
events in the Republic.
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Group rides have not even been possible because they would contravene the public health advice to stay at least two metres away from people you do not share your home with. And in the Republic people can only exercise within a 2km radius of home.
In the North, while group rides are also suspended,
cyclists can ride as far as they like from their homes and there is also no
time limit on how long they can ride for.
Last night it emerged all events requiring a licence, and where 5,000 people or more were expected to attend, have been banned until at least September. These include festivals and concerts.
That move was made to allow those organising the events
plenty of time to cancel performers and other aspects of their plans.
No decision has yet been made on sporting events, all of
which are suspended at present and have been for weeks.
However, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the Government
wants to lift some Covid19 restrictions when the current deadline expires next
Monday week, May 5th.
He said the Government was working on plans to lift some measures but could not say now what shape that easing of restrictions would take. Instead, he said an announcement would be made towards the end of next week.
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It is highly unlikely large crowds will be permitted at
sporting events before the end of August. However, there is some hope smaller
sporting events could take place, which may include cycling.
It also expected some sporting fixtures that usually draw
large crowds could go ahead behind closed doors, though that is not yet clear.
However, contact sports are now emerging as a longer term doubt, even behind
closed doors.
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