Restrictions on sports are eased and the permitted number of participants in children’s camps is increased

When organising sports training (activities) indoors, amateur sports group activities, including those in public swimming pools, at least 15 m2 per person must be provided, and no more than 20 participants may take part in one group at the same time – this is stipulated by amendments to the regulations on epidemiological safety measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 infection, approved by the government on 22 June 2021. The amendments apply to persons with valid test certificates and to mixed groups comprising people with valid test certificates and persons with a valid certificate of vaccination against Covid-19 or recovery from Covid-19.

Spectators with a valid certificate of vaccination against Covid-19 or recovery from Covid-19 will be allowed to attend sports competitions both indoors and outdoors, subject to several conditions. The flows of spectators and athletes, as well as sports staff serving the athletes, must not overlap; the established requirements for attending public events must be observed; and adequate ventilation must be ensured to prevent the concentration of CO2 in the air from exceeding 1,000 ppm (if the sports competition takes place indoors).

Spectators with a valid test certificate will also be allowed to attend sports competitions, but only outdoors. In this case, too, it must be ensured that the flow of spectators does not overlap with the flows of athletes and sports staff serving the athletes, and the requirements for attending public events must be observed. If spectators with a valid certificate of vaccination against Covid-19 or recovery from Covid-19 are also present in a separate spectator zone at a sports competition, it must be ensured that their flow does not overlap with the others.

The amendments approved today stipulate that, in camps, groups may comprise up to 30 people instead of the previous limit of 20, provided that Covid-19 testing is ensured for camp staff and participants and that the groups do not come into contact with one another.

The amendments also provide that higher, vocational, interest-based, amateur arts, adult and other educational services may be provided indoors, provided that there are no more than 30 people in the premises and at least 3 m2 per person is ensured. Groups in activities organised outdoors may comprise up to 50 people, provided that the groups do not come into contact with one another.

The specified relaxations are in force when the 14-day cumulative number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants falls below 100, and until it exceeds 120. The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control publishes 14-day Covid-19 incidence indicators on its website. If a decrease in incidence is established, the relevant precautionary and restrictive measures are applied on the day following publication. If an increase in incidence is established and epidemiological safety measures need to be strengthened, the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control publishes information in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis on an epidemiological safety situation in which it is necessary to strengthen epidemiological safety measures, and the measures are applied on the third working day after publication of that information.

More information - https://www.izm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/mikstina-ierobezojumus-sporta-un-palielina-pielaujamo-dalibnieku-skaitu-bernu-nometnes

Author:

Ministry of Education and Science

izm.gov.lv