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Munira has today written to the Sports Minister to raise her concerns following RFU’s announcement of the autumn rugby fixture schedule for Twickenham Stadium.
The proposed events are the largest sporting events since lockdown began and could see up to 44,000 spectators from across the country travel to Twickenham during a single weekend.
In the letter, Munira Wilson urges the Government to put the “public health and safety of local residents” first by ensuring the games pose a “very low risk in any local spike in infection rates” if they go ahead.
She has also pushed for a two-week gap between games following the first big match on 24th October to ensure there is enough time to assess the impact of the first match on infection rates.
Munira has previously raised these concerns with Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in Parliament. You can read more here.
Munira Wilson said:
“In view of the recent increase in Covid-19 cases, the rising R number and the ongoing issues in the Government’s Test and Trace system, I have significant concerns about the announcement of the rugby fixtures to be held in October and November.
In particular, the weekend of 24th and 25th October will see the first two big rugby matches held on consecutive days, with up to 44,000 spectators from across the country travelling to Twickenham.
We all want to see a return to normality as soon as possible, including sport, which is crucial to our economy and our sense of wellbeing. However, the public health and safety of local residents is absolutely paramount.
The proposed events are the largest live sporting events since lockdown began. It goes without saying that the Government must provide assurances that these games do not pose a significant risk to any local spike in infection rates.
Should the Government give the green light for these events to go ahead, I feel very strongly that it should insist on a clear two-week gap following the first big match to assess the impact on infection rates. It would be reckless of the Department for Culture, Media & Sport to allow the first two events to take place back to back in one weekend.”
Letter to the Sports Minister
The text of the letter is as follows:
I am writing to raise my concerns following the RFU’s announcement last week of the autumn rugby fixture schedule for Twickenham Stadium.
We all want to see a return to normality as soon as possible, including sport, which is crucial to the economy as well as people’s wellbeing. However, the public health and safety of local residents is paramount.
Given the recent spike in Coronavirus cases in England over the last week, current issues with the Government’s Covid-19 testing system and the Prime Minister’s announcement to tighten Covid-19 restrictions, I have significant public health concerns about the announcement of the rugby fixtures to be held in October and November.
In particular, the weekend of 24th and 25th October will see the first two big rugby matches held on consecutive days, with up to 44,000 spectators from across the country travelling to Twickenham over the course of the weekend.
These proposed events are the largest live sporting events since lockdown began. Although Richmond-upon-Thames has had relatively low levels of Covid-19 so far, we cannot be complacent and I am concerned about the implications of the matches on local infection rates.
I understand your department has the powers to determine if these matches go ahead. Can you therefore provide details on the data, expert advice and risk assessment that the Government is using in determining whether these matches can go ahead. Can you also provide assurances that your evaluation points to a very low risk in any local spike in infection rates?
Lastly, should the Department of Culture, Media and Sport allow these events to go ahead, I strongly urge you to consider a two-week gap following the first big match on 24 October. Will you consider this as a way to allow time to assess the impact of the first match on infection rates?