Two days ago, the Government published an
action plan to contain the possible spread of the coronavirus.
The SRA have pulled together the latest information to provide with you with an update on how the you can respond.
We have abridged this slightly as some of it dealt from professional sport. From a stoolball point of view, if you share equipment such as bats, please keep an alcohol based hand-sanitiser available for use with your kit bag.
Your preparations
Many of you are proceeding rapidly with your contingency planning. Some are just beginning that process in earnest.
Either way, the following ‘ABC’ may help shape your approach. There should be no presumption that one stage will automatically lead to the next, but it is best practice to think about the different scenarios that may emerge.
A: As you are. Our current state.
- There is no need to cancel or postpone your events at this time;
- Reassure your athletes, stakeholders, and customers, building on the latest Public Health England advice;
- Examine your insurance policies to see what cover you may have should the situation evolve;
- Remain mindful of guidance on infection control in the workplace – catch it, kill it, bin it;
- Take sensible steps to discourage staff with flu-like symptoms from coming to work;
B: Behind closed doors If the Government finds it necessary to curb travel or large gatherings of people, this is particularly a possible scenario for spectator sports.
C: Cancellation, curtailment, or postponement if the Government finds it necessary to impose restrictions which make staging an event or providing a service impossible.
- Consider how you would resolve your remaining fixtures and conclude your competition, workforce health permitting;
- Consider how you would deal with cancelled classes, membership, season tickets etc.
- Please also take every step to help keep our nation active. Being fit and
healthy can reduce the risk of infection in the first place. Think
creatively about how we can maintain activity levels in such a scenario, looking out for steers from Sport England.
Latest government guidance
The following tailored advice for our sector has been developed. This advises:
- There is presently no rationale to close or cancel sporting events, but this may change as the situation evolves, so please keep a close eye on Gov.uk.
- Anyone with flu-symptoms should avoid the risk of spreading their
infection, whatever that infection may be, by staying at home and
recovering;
- For those hosting sporting events, whatever the size, attendees and participants should stay up to date on the government’s latest advice on how to avoid catching or spreading the virus, which is here;
- As the situation progresses advice may follow for the frail, elderly
and those with pre-existing health conditions (to be defined) to stay
away from gatherings as part of general advice aimed at minimising
unnecessary contact with others;
- For those travelling to sporting events overseas, the Foreign Office’s travel advice should be followed here and travellers should note that apart from the countries and territories named in that advice, the government is not presently advising against travel to anywhere else;
- For those who offer community and leisure services, such as running a local football team; or running a gym; hand hygiene should be strongly promoted and encouraged and equipment and facilities should be thoroughly cleaned and wiped down as usual following use. The government is planning to publish specific advice on this shortly;
- There is presently no reason people should stop doing their daily sport and physical activities as they normally would;
The Sport and Recreation Alliance would like to reiterate the importance of
following advice from Public Health England and Gov.uk when you have
queries relating to the impact of coronavirus. Hopefully the guidance
above will have answered many of your questions.
As we all know, sport and activity play a vital role in maintaining health
and wellbeing, and we will provide further updates when
appropriate. Many thanks for your co-operation.
