The MX-5 Owners Club is committed to following the latest UK Government Coronavirus advice on events and public gatherings. Changes to guidance issued by government offers significant update to how you can meet others across the UK.

It is extremely important to stress to all members that the virus has not gone away and for the time being life will and should not feel totally normal. The lifting of restrictions while important and welcome, mustn’t mean the dropping of our guard.

The overall guidance has not changed; stay at home as much as possible, limit contact with others and keep your distance from people not in your household (2 metres apart where possible) and always, wash your hands regularly.

What do the changes mean for Club meets, shows and events?


With further changes from 1st August, the Club’s Area coordinators are now able to begin to start planning for drives and small get togethers after that date. There is guidance and practices that we as an organisation must follow and members will be asked to pre-register for any activities.If you are interested in helping out or getting along to something locally, please contact your Area coordinator (if the position is vacant please see link below). We kindly ask that members are patient as new processes are worked through and always to please keep personal wellbeing as a priority. There are limitations to what can be done and some activities may become fully subscribed, we have outlined the Government advice for group activity as it stands today.

This is a rapidly changing picture and we also ask that members should please be aware of and respect any local regulations specific to their area. We know there are lots of members who are keen to get out driving and meet up again, however as a Club we must also balance this with the many who will also remain more cautious and may be emerging from shielding, please be mindful of other members wishes and requests.

We are aware that some venues advertising and running certain small scale events.  Where members do attend such gatherings, they do so at their own risk and should satisfy themselves that the business, venue or organiser has put in the necessary infrastructure, social distancing, track and trace and hygiene measures to comply with the regulations for hospitality venues.

Also remember that Restaurants and Pubs that are able to open are having to work under heavy restrictions on hygiene and social distancing. All venues are required to record the personal details of anyone entering their premises and many are operating a pre-book only policy. Venue owners must act responsibly and control over-crowding at their establishments. We ask that you are supportive of any measures that any venue operator may ask of you. Face coverings should be worn where needed.

It’s vitally important that Club members act responsibly and please follow government guidance for your area, we hope that diligence on all our behalf will aid progress towards a more normal life – a return to tighter lockdown measures could very quickly happen if cases rise both locally and nationally.

Please remember that as members and as a Club, we are not only ambassadors for the Mazda MX-5 and the MX-5 Owners Club, but also the car club community as a whole. The small changes represent a great step that we can gradually and modestly get back to doing what we love to do as a Club. Our steps to get people together need to be diligent and with process to adhere to the guidelines. Our vigilance has to remain, the virus has not gone away and we ask all members to be mindful of their own safety as well as the impact of actions on others, lockdown measures could very quickly return with the spread of new cases.

Please note:

Our volunteer Coordinators may make changes, postponements or cancellations to activities, we ask that members support them in their decisions.

What are the rules on meeting up with people?

England

  • Critically across the whole UK – It remains against the law for gatherings of more than 30 people to take place, this includes private homes and outdoor space. Any other gathering in an outdoor space must not be any larger than 30 people.
  • Venues following COVID-19 Secure guidelines may be able to host larger groups provided they mitigate and control the risk of transmission. In line with laws for this activity.
  • Those operating venues must ensure the safety of the public and prevent mass gatherings or large events from taking place.
  • If attending a venue that is following guidelines, you should take care to limit your interactions with anyone outside of your group and you should continue to maintain social distancing from those that you do not live with.
  • Two households are now able to meet indoors have to maintain social distancing throughout, unless they are in a support bubble with each other.
  • Meetings indoors of more than two households are not recommended, because of the higher risk of infection that meeting indoors poses. Households can meet with multiple numbers of other households, as long as each is a separate meeting.
  • Outdoors, people from multiple households can meet in groups of up to six.

Scotland

  • A maximum of eight people from three different households can meet indoors, but must observe strict social distancing.
  • Outdoors, up to 15 people from five different households are able to gather.
  • One household can meet up to 4 other households per day in total.

Wales

  • Two different households can now meet outdoors in groups of any number of people in size.
  • Indoor meetings with people from outside of your household are not allowed.

Northern Ireland

  • Indoors, groups of up to six people from different households, but must observe social distancing.
  • Outdoors gathering are strictly limited to a maximum of 30 people from any household.


How are the rules enforced?
Individuals can be issued with fines of £100, reduced to £50 if paid within 14 days, up to a maximum of £3,200 for repeat offences with more serious offences being prosecuted. The Police have powers to disperse groups of over thirty people and remove people from an area.

What about clinically vulnerable individuals?
Please be mindful of any members who have been unidentified as at “high-risk” of contracting COVID-19.
Those deemed as high risk are are now able to gather with up to six people outdoors. This number includes individuals outside of the household. Those shielding can also form a “support bubble” with one other household.

When will the rules change?
The next review of the rules will be made by government by 31st July 2020.

The rules can be relaxed or made tougher at any time. 
Please remember, don’t be complacent simple steps protect everyone. If you feel unwell do not meet others and if you have symptoms of the virus you need to self isolate. If any member feels unwell they must not attend any activity or event.

Guidance Links
England:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do#gatherings-public-spaces-and-activities
Scotland:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-individuals-and-businesses-in-scotland
Wales:https://gov.wales/coronavirus
Northern Ireland:https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/coronavirus-covid-19

For NHS information visit:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

If you Area has a vacant coordinator position please email membership@mx5oc.co.uk
MX-5 Owners Club