Ringing Forums

When the guidance was first relaxed, there was a sentence saying that if you were undertaking a physical activity and felt that wearing a mask would make this difficult, this could be claimed as an exemption but I can't find this any more. Is it no longer the case? Several churches I know insist on masks even if it is a peal or quarter peal with no-one else in the church. One has now relaxed this (though we have to put a sign on the door saying it's 'no longer a covid-secure area'. I can understand the need for masks if there is a large group of ringers, and if it's a ground floor ring with members of the congregation present, but if it's just 6 or 8 ringers and there is sufficiant ventilation, I think that the band should be allowed to decide for themselves. And if the church have a policy on wearing masks and someone is unable to ring wearing one, can they claim an excemption?

And now Omicron. I assume we have to start thinking again in the light of any risks posed by this new hazard.

It is going to be published today with not major changes.
The Church of England has published it's own revised guidance and is not making any particular change because of omicron - not cancellaton of Christmas! No mandating of face coverings etc.
https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2021-11/COVID%2019%20Guidance%20from%20the%2030th%20November%202021%20v1.pdf

Looks like face coverings in places of worship but an exemption for exercise from the 10th?

https://cccbr.org.uk/2021/12/09/covid-plan-b-england/

At a quick initial read it looks like the exercise exemption relates to the setting and not the act of exercising.

gyms and exercise facilities (including dance studios)

Have I missed something?

@AJB: The fact that you are calling Omicron a “new hazard” is one of the reasons why ringing will never return to its pre-lockdown popularity.
It’s no worse than a cold, and no-one has yet died from it.
Project fear will be the death of ringing, in addition to our way of life.