COVID-19 impacts to Dover Training
I have now finished reading the 50+ page UK government briefing paper on the next stages of relaxing the current COVID-19 restrictions in place. As a result I have now updated my risk document and assessed when would be the earliest that training could start in Dover.
The document talks about three phases with phase 1 being the tight controls that were introduced at the start of this pandemic.
We are now moving into phase 2. With phase 2 there are 3 steps. The further out you go the more vague the guidelines are at this stage. At a high level:
Step 1 (13th May) removes the ‘once a day’ restriction to exercise and means that you can enjoy unlimited exercise outside of the house. You can also travel an unlimited distance for that. You can meet up with one person from outside your household whilst maintaining social distancing. Theoretically swimming is permitted exercise but RLSS are encouraging people to not exercise in water.
Step 2 (earliest 1st June) is all about schools and education and talks about some scenarios where small gatherings are permitted to facilitate things like small weddings.
Step 3 (earliest 4th July) is the first time that public places and leisure facilities are mentioned. It implies slightly larger gatherings.
Based on this, the very earliest time that we would be able to train in Dover would be step 3. Even then there would need to be some very significant mitigations in place and we would be reliant on various bodies being in agreement. For example:
RLSS would need to remove their current guidance of not swimming outside.
RLNI, Swim England, Dover Harbour Board would all need to endorse training
We’d need an app to be ready for managing signing in and out to remove the need for physical contact with surfaces that can’t be sanitised (e.g. signing in books)
Adaptations would be required around physical contact (e.g. greasing, feeding, suncream, volunteer positions etc)
Hospitality industry re-opened to enable volunteers travelling from afar to be able to stay locally.
We’d also need to assess the current phase of the pandemic to ensure that the NHS and emergency services are coping and that as small a risk as it is, that the additional risk of cold water swimming would not place an additional burden and in turn damage our reputation.
You can access the full document by clicking on the button below.
If you have any questions on this, please let me know.