We promised yesterday to keep in touch with you during the current situation.

Our posting on the BowlsWales Twitter and Facebook page has already had more than 3,400 visits – thank you for your interest.

Social distancing is very much at the center of the UK and Welsh Governments’ advice to us all. The current UK Government advice is here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults

with the advice for social mixing in the community, which includes examples such as cinemas, theatres, pubs, bars, restaurants and clubs given at the very end of the document. You can still go outside for exercise as long as you do so in a way that meets these Government guidelines.

In the meantime, our colleagues in the Welsh Sports Association, which acts as an umbrella organisation for sport governing bodies here, has highlighted the following developments in the past day:

Welsh Government

Statement from Minster for Education, Kirsty Williams, on school closures in Wales <https://gov.wales/statement-minster-education-kirsty-williams-school-closures-wales> , 18 March 2020

The Minister has announced we are bringing forward the Easter break for schools in Wales. Schools across Wales will close for statutory provision of education at the latest on 20 March 2020.

Written Statement: Support for businesses in dealing with Covid-19 <https://gov.wales/written-statement-support-businesses-dealing-covid-19> , 17 March 2020

Rebecca Evans AM, Minister for Finance and Trefnydd

The Welsh Government is today announcing a package of support worth more than £200m for small businesses to help them during the coronavirus outbreak. Retail, leisure and hospitality businesses with a rateable value of £51,000 or less will receive 100% non-domestic rates relief and pubs with a rateable value of between £51,000 and £100,000 will receive a £5,000 reduction on their bill.  Under this new scheme, 20,000 businesses will pay no rates at all in 2020-21.

If there are any updated instructions and recommendations from either the UK or the Welsh Government, or Sport Wales, we will pass them on to you.

DISCLAIMER – All the information above is the latest we have available and is subject to change as circumstances dictate.

Many thanks,

The BowlsWales Team