Football match precautions were 'not strict enough'published at 13:54 British Summer Time 7 September 2020
The football club that hosted a charity match linked to a recent coronavirus outbreak has expressed "deep regret and sadness" that it "caused a significant rise" in local cases.
Up to 300 people who attended the event at Burnside Working Men's Club in Fencehouses on 30 August are being told to self-isolate, after 28 people tested positive for Covid-19.
"I would hope that people understand that if we knew at the time what we know now, this football match would never have gone ahead. The club would also like people to support each other, instead of issuing out fault," a statement issued by a representative of Burnside Working Men's Club FC says.
It wishes those affected a "quick recovery" and adds that the club has been working with Public Health England to help tracing efforts.
"I will admit the precautions set in place were not strict enough. Going forward this will change to ensure any matches played, home or away, by the Burnside WMC will be played in the safest possible way, to make sure something like this never happens again," the statement continues.
"I’d like to reiterate that this event would never had taken place if we had known back then, what we know now, and the day was planned with the best intentions."