Sports training sessions may also take place indoors

Today, 29 June 2021, the government approved the proposal prepared by the Ministry of Education and Science to allow sports training sessions for students enrolled in interest education and vocationally oriented education programmes to take place indoors as well. The proposal to increase the number of people who may be present simultaneously at an outdoor sports competition venue was also approved. As long as the 14-day cumulative number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants does not exceed 120, up to 500 people may be present simultaneously at an outdoor sports competition venue, instead of the previous 300.

In a relatively large number of sports, it is not possible to fully develop the skills and abilities specific to a particular sport without indoor training, due either to the nature of the sport or to the specific features of the sports infrastructure required for the training process. Therefore, having assessed the current epidemiological situation and taking into account the fact that the number of people infected with Covid-19 continues to decrease, the government decided today to allow sports training sessions (classes) for students enrolled in interest education and vocationally oriented education programmes to be organised indoors in an organised and controlled manner, subject to mandatory epidemiological safety measures.

No more than 20 students may gather simultaneously in one training group, and at least 25 m2 of the area of the sports venue’s premises accessible to visitors must be provided per person (in a public swimming pool, 15 m2 of water-surface area). Occupancy of the premises where the training process takes place may not exceed 20% of the maximum number of people permitted by the infrastructure of those premises. Taking into account the specific nature of public swimming pools, the regulations provide that up to four people may be present in one swimming lane of a 25-metre public swimming pool, while up to six people may be present in one swimming lane of a 50-metre public swimming pool.

It is important to note that the requirement to comply with a specified number of square metres will depend on the epidemiological situation: as long as the 14-day cumulative number of Covid-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants does not exceed 120, 15 m2 rather than 25 m2  of available area must be provided per person in sports training sessions (classes), and the requirement limiting occupancy of the premises’ infrastructure to 20% of the maximum possible number of people will not apply.

The training process is carried out by testing students and employees weekly. Students will not need to be tested if there are no more than five participants in the group. A Covid-19 test will also not be required for persons with a valid certificate of vaccination against Covid-19 or recovery from Covid-19. Weekly testing will be organised according to the general procedure, including by incorporating certain categories of persons into the state-funded testing programme.

The duration of a sports training session (class) may not exceed 90 minutes, and changing rooms may not be used, except in a public swimming pool if occupancy of the changing rooms does not exceed 25%. Students under the age of five may not participate in a sports training session (class), except for students enrolled in a swimming instruction programme.

When organising classes indoors, adequate ventilation must be ensured so as not to allow the concentration of CO2 in the air to exceed 1,000 ppm, or the premises must be aired regularly every 90 minutes for at least 20 minutes. Persons who are not directly involved in organising and conducting the sports training session, including students’ parents, may not participate in it. No other events may be organised in the premises where the sports training session takes place.

Before a sports training session, the organiser must ascertain in good time the number of students involved in the session. There is also a requirement that classes be held according to a strict schedule and that the students and employees involved be registered (first name, surname, contact information). In the event of illness, at the request of the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, it will be mandatory to provide the personal data of students and employees involved in sports training sessions (classes), as well as information about the dates and venues/premises where the sports training sessions (classes) took place.

Parents of children are, in turn, encouraged to assess the student’s participation in sports training and to ensure that the child does not attend a class if the child has acute health problems or signs of a respiratory infectious disease, or if the child is required to comply with isolation, home quarantine or self-isolation requirements.

The amendments adopted by the government today to Cabinet Regulation No. 360 of 9 June 2020, “Epidemiological Safety Measures to Limit the Spread of Covid-19 Infection”, are available on the Cabinet of Ministers’ website. The amendments will enter into force after their publication in the official gazette Latvijas Vēstnesis.

More information - https://www.izm.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/sporta-trenini-vares-norisinaties-ari-iekstelpas

Author:

Ministry of Education and Science

izm.gov.lv