Following this week’s announcement that Essex will be moving to the HIGH COVID-19 alert level, members may be interested to know how this will affect us.

In short, it makes very little difference, although we urge all members to please continue to observe all COVID-19 restrictions to help us stay as safe as possible.

England Hockey have just announced that we can continue to play hockey while observing the previously announced guidelines. The big change is that we can no longer mix indoors with people outside our household group, which has put an end to our plans to reopen the clubhouse and bar.

While our senior teams should not be travelling to VERY HIGH alert level areas, and England Hockey are seeking guidance from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport regarding junior teams, none of our teams is currently scheduled to play teams from areas in that classification so, as things stand, we are unaffected.

The England Hockey update on these changes can be read here…

http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=49726&itemTitle=Updated+Return+To+Play+guidance+in+line+with+new+Local+Covid+Alert+Levels&section=22

and their latest FAQs here…

http://www.englandhockey.co.uk/news.asp?itemid=49730&itemTitle=Return+to+Play%3A+This+Weeks+Frequently+Asked+Questions&section=22