Covid-19 update

Restricted areas October 2020
Credit: BBC research

A brief summary of the discussion with Scottish Orienteering on 8th October 2020

You will have seen the latest restrictions released by the Scottish Government with the restrictions coming into force today, Friday 9th October 2020. What impact does this have on our sport and our activities in BASOC? The notes below are from the discussion hosted by Scottish Orienteering on Thursday 8th October 2020.
From Scottish Orienteering
"Following consultation with sportscotland we have been given permission to continue with our existing guidance that allow local/regional events and coaching activities to continue in line with our published guidance. However, we ask ALL members to comply with Scottish Government guidelines with particular note of local health board areas which have further restrictions over the next two weeks.
**Travel to or from an area with Scottish Government local measures or restrictions in place to undertake sport or physical activity should where possible be avoided**
Further details of local restrictions and our guidance for these areas will be published on our website before lunchtime today."
The full article can be read on the Scottish Orienteering website.

There is a lot of good news for our sport - especially with regard to transmission of the virus outside. It is considered to be a low risk of transmission outside provided you keep physical distance from each other, so the main implication for Tuesday=DarkO is that we avoid congregating closely when we finish our training and that we follow the guidelines on the BASOC website.

As the October school holidays are just about to happen, you might be thinking of going to an event held by another club. If this is the case, then follow the guidelines below:

• The Scottish Government has identified a "restricted area' as detailed on the map. Travel into those areas is limited to essential journeys only. Going to an orienteering event is not an essential journey. So if you thought about going to the event FVO are holding on Sunday near Stirling, you should not go as it is Forth Valley Health Board area. Update: FVO event now postponed to Sunday 1st November 2020.
• If you have entered the event GRAMP are having at Glen Dye on Sunday 11th October then you can as it is not in a restricted area. GRAMP have issued updated information after the session last night. Edinburgh University have withdrawn from the event as they would have been travelling from a restricted area, again this is not allowed under the restrictions (it might mean there are spare maps so you could contact the organiser for a last minute pre-entry, remember no entry at the event).
• If you go to an event, expect enhanced levels of hygiene (e.g. requests to use hand sanitiser) and physical distancing. Remember to pre-enter. There is concern over people gathering in parking areas after their run; please resist the temptation to do this, return to your car to sit and await other family members finishing their run and then head for home.

If you have any questions at all about Covid-19 and orienteering then please do contact Hilary Q, Clare K or Lynne W.