Covid update 29/10/2020

By Mark Rowlatt

Please read and digest this information. All players, officials and spectators need to be aware!

The League has now had confirmed COVID cases involving players and officials. Please make sure that your Risk Assessment is up to date and relevant. The following guidance is published to assist Clubs in managing COVID cases that may occur.
It is not exhaustive and the NHS 111 helpline is there to answer any questions.

Guidance on COVID19 and what to do when it affects your club.

Scenario 1
A player (FROM YOUR OWN TEAM OR THE OPPOSITION) turns up to a match and complains of feeling ill.
Just feeling ill is not a sign of COVID. The symptoms of COVID19 INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
• Fever or chills
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• New loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhoea
A player exhibiting most of these symptoms should not be playing football or taking part in strenuous exercise anyway. Medical advice should be sought . These symptoms could indicate COVID infection .
The player must NOT play and should return home and Contact NHS 111 or his own doctor.
If a COVID test is advised the player must isolate for 48 hours and complete the test. He must notify his club that a test is advised and the Club must notify the League. The player cannot return to football (training or matches) until he has had a negative test result for COVID.
Any individual who plays knowing he has symptoms and has not had a negative COVID TEST RESULT is liable to a fine not exceeding £10,000.00. Likewise if the Club allow the player to play they are also liable to a fine.
The Club must also be aware that NHS Test and Trace may want details of any players, officials, and spectators who were present when the player arrived at the ground. If you do not have a QR poster which everyone can use, then this will mean your paper records as per your Risk Assessment.
Every Club must have A COVID officer and that person is the responsible person for making sure that this information is complete. Failure to comply with this will render the club liable to sanctions and possible prosecution. Max Fine £10,000.00
In the event that a player turns up with the following symptoms :
• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion
• Inability to wake or stay awake
• Bluish lips or face
Treat this as a medical emergency. Dial 999 .
..................................................................................................................
Scenario 2
A player calls you to say he feels unwell and does not want to play on the morning of a game.
Again just feeling unwell is not a symptom of COVID.
Ask the player to contact his own Doctor or NHS 111 and seek advice with the symptoms he has. If a COVID test is advised the player must now isolate for 48 Hours and must complete the COVID test. He cannot play any football (training or matches ) until he has had a negative result from a COVID test.
Any individual who plays knowing he has symptoms and has not had a negative COVID TEST RESULT is liable to a fine not exceeding £10,000.00. Likewise if the Club allow the player to play they are also liable to a fine.
The Club must contact the League and inform them of the circumstances.
NHS test and Trace may need to speak to the Club Covid officer . Your paper records may need to be disclosed.
...................................................................................................................
Scenario 3
You played a game yesterday and the opposition Manager has just phoned you to say that one of their players has tested positive for COVID.
Do not Panic.
Outdoor Football has been graded as a low risk for passing on the virus. You will have carried out your Risk Assessment control measures and you have either used a QR code or have paper records.
NHS test and Trace should contact you to ascertain any contacts that you will have, other than QR contacts.
Notify the League, who should already be aware having been contacted by the other Manager.
You now need to contact all the players and any other people at the game to let them know. If they used a QR poster NHS test and Trace will also contact them but that may take some time.
If they develop symptoms they must contact NHS 111 and follow the guidelines for a player in Scenario 2. This is a role for the COVID officer in your club. Ask the player to contact his own Doctor or NHS 111 and seek advice with the symptoms he has. If a COVID test is advised the player must now isolate for 48 Hours and must complete the COVID test. He cannot play any football (training or matches ) until he has had a negative result from a COVID test.
Any individual who plays knowing he has symptoms and has not had a negative COVID TEST RESULT is liable to a fine not exceeding £10,000.00. Likewise if the Club allow the player to play they are also liable to a fine.
The Club must contact the League and inform them of the circumstances
Remember that we want to keep playing as long as possible. If we follow the rules we may get the League Season completed.
Clubs will not be penalised for calling off games if the number of players available due to COVID19 means that they cannot field a team for a fixture. Therefore it is important to keep the League updated when you have a player who comes back with a positive COVID test result.
At this moment in time grassroots football is still allowed to take place in ANY of the Three lockdown areas and players are still allowed to travel into or out of different areas to play, BUT You must follow the guidance on travelling in household bubbles.
How NHS Test and Trace works
Part 1: for someone with symptoms of coronavirus
1. isolate: as soon as you experience coronavirus symptoms, medical advice is clear: you must self-isolate for at least 10 days. Anyone else in your household must self-isolate for 14 days from when you started having symptoms
2. test: get a free NHS test immediately to check if you have coronavirus or call 119 if you have no internet access
3. results: if your test is positive, you must complete the remainder of your 10-day self-isolation. Anyone in your household must also complete self-isolation for 14 days from when you started having symptoms. Failure to self-isolate for the full time-period can result in a fine, starting from £1,000. If your test is negative you will no longer be required to self-isolate, though you may wish to do so if you still feel unwell and have symptoms similar to coronavirus. If your test is negative, other household members no longer need to self-isolate.
4. share contacts: if you test positive for coronavirus, NHS Test and Trace will send you a text or email alert or call you with instructions of how to share details of people with whom you have had close, recent contact and places you have visited. It is important that you respond quickly and accurately so that we can give appropriate advice to those who need it. You will be told to do this online via a secure website or you will be called by one of our contract tracers. If NHS Test and Trace contact tracers are unable to contact you for 24 hours, they may pass your case to your local authority to follow up by phone or in person.
Part 2: if you are contacted by NHS Test and Trace because you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus
1. alert: you will be alerted by NHS Test and Trace if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus. The alert will usually come by text, email or phone call. You should then log on to the NHS Test and Trace website, which is normally the easiest way for you and the service to communicate with each other – but, if not, a trained call handler will talk you through what you must do. Under-18s will get a phone call and a parent or guardian will be asked to give permission for the call to continue
2. isolate: you will be told to begin self-isolation for 14 days from your last contact with the person who has tested positive. It’s really important to do this even if you don’t feel unwell because, if you have been infected, you could become infectious to others at any point up to 14 days. Failure to self-isolate for the full time-period can result in a fine, starting from £1,000. Your household doesn’t need to self-isolate with you, if you do not have symptoms, but they must take extra care to follow the guidance on social distancing and handwashing and avoid contact with you at home
3. test if needed: if you develop symptoms of coronavirus, other members of your household must self-isolate immediately at home for 14 days and you must get a test to check if you have coronavirus or call 119 if you have no internet access. If your test is positive, you must continue to stay at home for at least 10 days and we will get in touch to ask about your contacts since they must self-isolate. If your test is negative, you must still complete your 14-day self-isolation period because the virus may not be detectable yet – this is crucial to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus.

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