Almost no one who contracted Covid-19 during the early part of the pandemic in China became infected in an outdoor setting, a new study has found – which offers very positive news with the return of point-to-point racing now just two months away.
A study of Covid-19 outbreaks in China by researchers from three universities - the University of Hong Kong, Southeast University and Tsinghua University – found that only one instance of outdoor transmission, involving two men talking together in the village of Shangqiu, Henan province, was found “among our 7,324 identified cases in China.”
Almost 80% of outbreaks in the study were found to have occurred at home, with public transport responsible for the next highest source of outbreaks.
Horse racing in Ireland resumed under strict protocols on June 8th, and with point-to-point racing having the further benefit of taking place almost exclusively outdoors, the ongoing global research continues to highlight the reduced likelihood of virus transmission in these outdoor settings.
Close contact sports have already resumed training and competition around the country, whilst July 20 will see gatherings of up to 500 people outdoors being permitted.
A recent report on RTÉ’s Prime Time provides further insight on the slim likelihood of contracting Covid-19 outdoors.
