AQW 11706/17-22 Written question to the Minister for Communities
To ask the Minister for Communities whether dance studios will be able to open again from 12 December 2020, and under what circumstances.
Asked by Claire Sugden MLA on 8 December 2020
- Answered
- Written
- After due date
- Priority
- Tabled
- 8 December 2020
- Answer due by
- 11 December 2020
- Answered
- 23 December 202015 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Communities
- Priority question
- Yes
Answer
From 11th December until Boxing Day, dance studios and classes are able to resume but in very specific circumstances.
As COVID-19 is spread by respiratory droplets, group indoor sports, exercise activities and dance that have high levels of exertion (that is those which cause participants to get out of breath) are not permitted under the current regulations.
The current law provides that indoors, individual activity (including with a coach/ trainer, or carer), and non-contact activities of up to 15 people that do not cause an individual to get out of breath are permitted.
It would be an option for dance teachers to consider a programme designed not to leave participants out-of-breath. Dance studios are responsible for ensuring that any activity they organise is within the limits of the law.
The Executive has determined that for the six weeks from Boxing Day, restrictions will be placed on a range of activities. Dance is one of the activities that will be included in those restrictions and dance studios will be required to close during that six week period.