Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant has written to all community sporting organisations requesting that additional measures be taken to protect against the spread of COVID-19 in the wake of the growing Crossroads Hotel cluster.
NSW Health have requested the cooperation of community sport organisations to help decrease the number of people gathering at events. They have updated their guidelines with entry to indoor facilities and fenced venues limited to one person per participant (one parent or caregiver) at junior sport where practical and restricting spectator entry at adult community sport.
Other measures include:
- Ensure processes are in place to exclude participants (including spectators and officials) if they have visited Victoria in the 14 days prior.
- Ensure processes are in place to exclude participants (including spectators and officials) if they have attended any of the reported case locations listed on the NSW Health website.
- If sufficient numbers to field teams cannot be achieved, prioritise delaying the event rather than substituting with people from other teams or from the community.
NSWRL Chief Executive David Trodden said more than 80,000 participants across the state are set to return to community football competitions for the re-start of rugby league on Saturday July, 18 with the exception of competitions in south-western Sydney.
The re-start of these competitions has been delayed for two weeks until August 1 because of the current outbreak in this area.
"It is really important that everyone in the rugby league family takes the advice of NSW Health on board and works with us to minimise the number of spectators at games and training," Trodden said.
"We are all very excited about the opportunity to returning to play this weekend but if we don't follow the advice of government and health officials we are putting the entire community at risk.
"I urge everyone to be patient and only attend if you have to."
Football NSW Chief Executive Officer Stuart Hodge said they were working with the Office of Sport, associations and clubs, in updating their COVID-19 Safety Plan template to reflect the new directives amidst the ongoing risk of transmission in the community.
"It is important that the football family supports the NSW Government and the broader community, by continuing to promote the limiting of spectators, and encouraging participants to check if they have attended any of the affected venues. This is effective immediately and is vital for the successful continuation of our competitions throughout the state," he said
