Queensland Athletics
Athletics North Queensland COVID-19
Guidelines for Athletics – Bulletin 1
DATE: 18 March 2020

Queensland Athletics and Athletics North Queensland continue to take the health and safety of athletics participants including athletes, coaches, officials, staff, volunteers and fans, across all levels of the sport very seriously. 

As you are no doubt aware, COVID-19 is a quickly evolving global situation. The Boards of Queensland Athletics and Athletics North Queensland will continue to monitor advice from Federal and State Governments along with Health experts and Venues. We will update our Members as required. 

All Athletics organisers and participants must play a role if we are to help slow the spread of COVID-19, including people organising, attending or supporting attendance at athletics activities. 

In this unprecedented time, we also need to plan ahead, be ahead of the curve, where possible be proactive and postpone events and activities that may be at risk of cancellation. It is certain that guidelines will tighten further, it’s also certain that we will eventually get on top of this virus and at some stage need to return to normal business. It is in that environment that we are advising Clubs to plan now and possibly look at postponing and rescheduling rather than cancel. 

Effective 18 March 2020, the following guidelines should be adhered to for all Athletics activities in Queensland, including competition, training, clinics and educational activities. 

•Clubs should postpone or cancel all competitions, including Track & Field, Cross Country and Organised Road Running until 31 May. 

•Clubs should cancel all coaching, officiating, clinics and educational activities of more than 10 persons until 31 May. 

•Clubs should cancel all regular training sessions where more than 10 individuals are involved. Where small groups (less than 10) training is organised strict social distancing. In addition to the sanitisation of equipment being used by the athletes and coaching, shall be implemented. . NOTE: advice can and will change over the next few days and weeks so any document/advice we give will need to be reviewed and potentially modified on a regular basis. 

Social Distancing
Participants should not present at any Cub or Athletics activity if they: 

1. Have any flu-like symptoms;
2. Have been in direct contact with a known case of COVID-19 in the past 14 days;
3. Have travelled internationally or been exposed to a person with COVID-19 in the preceding 14 days; or 4. Are at a high risk from a health perspective, including the elderly and those with pre-existing medical heath conditions.
4. Athletes, Coaches or officials do not touch each other, e.g. no shaking hands 
5. Ensure you keep a distance of 1.5 metres between yourself and others; 
6. Restrict access to changeroom areas
7. Ensure spaces at each facility, surfaces and objects are regularly cleaned with 
8. Disinfectant stating high alcohol content (90%) or antiviral properties 
9. Ensure spaces at each facility, any implements cleaned with Disinfectant stating high alcohol content (90%) or antiviral properties 
10. Provide hand washing guidance (http://www.who.int/gpsc/clean_hands_protection/en/); 
11. Promote regular and thorough hand washing by staff and participants; 
12. Provide sanitising hand rub dispensers, stating high alcohol content (90%) or antiviral properties in prominent places around the event venue 
13. Make sure hand rub dispensers are regularly refilled.

Behaviour: 

1. Cover mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze; 
2. Provide bins and put used tissues in the bin straight away; 
3. Wash hands with soap and water often; 
4. Use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available; 
5. Try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell; 
6. Do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean.