Presteigne St Andrews FC committee members appreciate the very real concerns of many people over the current Coronavirus threat facing the country.
The Central Wales Football Association has issued a statement outlining their current stance regarding the perceived threat:
’Today the UK Government announced that in respect of the Coronavirus or Covid-19 it is moving from the containment phase to the delay phase the aim being to delay as long as possible the general spread of the virus to beyond the usual winter pressures phase that the NHS faces each year to help ensure that there is capacity to deal with the additional pressures that the spread of this virus will inevitably bring.
CWFA would want to play its part in delaying the spread of the virus and therefore we are monitoring developments in case a decision needs to be taken to postpone organised local football in our area.
At present we do not need to consider postponement for the following reasons;
Schools are not being closed and juniors running around outside in the fresh air is likely to be less risky than confinement in a class room.
Generally speaking, ambulance staff, doctors and police officers do not attend our adult or junior fixtures so there is no direct risk to NHS or other emergency services through our local football events.
There will be concern that social gatherings of over 500 persons are now banned in Scotland but we do not have events that are likely to attract such large crowds.
The important message at this stage is that any players, supporters, coaches, parents, club or match officials with a new and persistent cough and/or a temperature should not attend any local football events and training indoors should be avoided. If in doubt stay at home.
It would be helpful if Leagues and clubs helped to convey that message.’
David Hinton Jones
Secretary, CWFA