COVID-19: Pandemic Response Plan
/Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation declared the virus commonly being referred to as “Coronavirus” (COVID-19) as a Global Health Emergency of International Concern. The Australian Federal Government has also identified the disease as a ‘significant risk to Australia’ in its Health Sector Emergency Response Plan, which stresses the importance of slowing the spread of the disease by minimising transmission. Reducing the spread of the disease through social distancing and personal hygiene has been identified by health professionals as essential to delaying the peak of the outbreak, so called “flattening the curve”, which would significantly reduce the burden on the healthcare system and potentially save many lives. Links to more information and resources can be found at the end of this announcement.
In light of these public health announcements, and current understanding of how the disease transmits, and what potential risks it poses, the Quidditch Australia Board has decided to put the following plan in place in response to the global health emergency posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Further details are provided below. In summary:
Effective immediately, Quidditch Australia is putting a series of organiser requirements and player recommendations in place, designed to help slow or prevent the spread of COVID-19 at quidditch events.These will be mandatory for any event sanctioned by Quidditch Australia.
Effective immediately, Quidditch Australia recommends minimising, cancelling, or postponing any and all quidditch activity that involves travel and/or large gatherings of people. This may include club trainings, tournaments, social events, and other such occasions where many people may come into contact with each other. This is strictly a recommendation and clubs can balance this with the need for social contact and sport for physical and mental wellbeing of their members, depending on their local situation.
Effective immediately, any member of the community who either has COVID-19 themselves, or suspects that they may have come into contact with the virus, should initiate self quarantine, as per Australian health guidelines, and avoid in-person quidditch activities. We also urge any such person to please contact Quidditch Australia directly (admin@quidditchaustralia.org) as soon as possible, so that appropriate measures may be taken quickly.
In the next 1-2 weeks, Quidditch Australia will likely suspend all quidditch activities, either in particular states or nationally, depending on how the situation develops. In practical terms, this means that event sanctioning for all planned events will be revoked, and will not be granted.
In the next 1-2 weeks, Quidditch Australia will be publishing information and recommendations as to alternative activities that teams can run while still maintaining social distancing and minimising travel, to maintain social bonds and personal health and fitness activities.
In the next week (by Friday 20th), Quidditch Australia will be publishing information regarding the upcoming Dropbears training camp scheduled for Sydney in two weeks time (which involve interstate travel). We will also be in close communication with the International Quidditch Association with regards to World Cup in July in the next 1-2 weeks and beyond.
There is now a landing page on the Quidditch Australia website (www.quidditchaustralia.org/covid-19) where any and all updates regarding the ongoing situation pertaining to the disease and its effect on quidditch in Australia and World Cup will be compiled, as well as recommendations, resources, and more.
Quidditch Australia has undertaken this plan in the interest of the health and safety of the quidditch community and with concern for the wider Australian and global community. We believe that while it is important that people do not panic, it is equally important to operate with measured concern in response to such a serious threat as COVID-19 presents. We also believe that while social distancing, physical isolation, quarantine, and other emergency measures become the norm, now is not the time for casting aspersions on particular countries or cultures or but for the community to support one another in the face of the crisis, and work together to keep as many people safe as possible.
1: Quidditch Australia Recommendations & Requirements For Sanctioned Events Effective Immediately
The following regulations apply to all quidditch related activities across Australia, including club trainings, social events, tournaments, and all other events that involve person-to-person contact. While these are recommendations only for most events, for any event that has Quidditch Australia event sanctioning (e.g. tournaments, some club trainings, etc), the requirements for organisers are mandatory. Failure to comply with these will result in sanctioning being revoked. In practical terms, this means that the event will not be endorsed by Quidditch Australia and will not be covered by Quidditch Australia’s insurance.
Organisers of upcoming sanctioned events must contact Quidditch Australia (events@quidditchaustralia.org) to confirm that they are aware of the new requirements and that they will be adhering to them.
Recommendations for Individuals:
With regards to attendance, individuals should:
Not attend events if they have contracted COVID-19
Not attend events if they have come into contact with someone confirmed to have contracted COVID-19
With regards to personal hygiene, individuals should:
Wash hands before and after
Playing games
Touching equipment like mouthguards
Ideally use hand sanitiser before and after taking to the pitch
Avoid touching their face
Avoid sneezing or coughing into hands, clothing, or elbow-pit
Note: arms and elbows may regularly come into contact to other people through tackles, ball handling, or using ‘elbow-bumps’ as an alternative to handshakes after a game. We recommend sneezing or coughing into a tissue, handkerchief, personal towel, etc, that may be thrown out or cleaned.
With regards to equipment, individuals should
Minimise sharing of equipment such as
Jerseys
Gloves
Brooms
Headbands
Entirely avoid sharing equipment such as
Whistles
Water bottles
Mouth guards
Individuals should also
Avoid hugs, handshakes, high fives, or similar contact after a game
Avoid the practice of removing a mouthguard during a game
Avoid spitting on gloves to clean them or make them more sticky
Requirements for Organisers:
Game equipment (including brooms, hoops, and especially balls) should be sanitised between games (for example, using 70% alcohol solution or soapy water). Further information on sanitation can be found in the resources below.
Ensure bathrooms are available for all players at the event, and ensure the bathrooms are well stocked with soap
Easy access to hand sanitise should be made available for participants if possible
Players and participants should be monitored for symptoms, and anyone who is feeling ill and especially displaying symptoms of COVID-19 should be encouraged to refrain from playing further. Symptoms can include: fever, a cough, sore throat, tiredness or shortness of breath. Please see further resources and information below. Organisers should exercise common sense here, and try to ensure the safety of all involved, without inciting panic.
Ensure food safety practices are strictly adhered to, whether food is being supplied by the community or through professional catering.
Ensure all players are aware of the above recommendations for individuals, and that as much as possible, they are adhered to
It is important to note that these recommendations and requirements are not exhaustive and not meant to replace established common sense hygiene practises such as social distancing. Please see further public health recommendations in the resources below, and email further suggestions to media@quidditchaustralia.org.
2-4: Preparing for Suspension of Quidditch Activities Across Australia.
At this stage (15th March, 2020), Quidditch Australia is not implementing a nation-wide suspension of Quidditch related activities. This is because the virus situation is very different in different parts of the country, and we are trying to balance the need to slow the spread of the virus within the community and broader society with the need to reduce panic, and ensure people have access to communities and activities that are often vital for physical and mental health.
However, we are also aware that the situation is developing extremely rapidly, and the exponential spread of the virus in other parts of the world serves as a warning for how quickly the situation may escalate in different parts of the country here in Australia - especially as most quidditch in Australia takes place in dense urban areas.
At this stage we are merely recommending that events such as tournaments and training are minimised or suspended where possible, and that teams and organisers follow the public health advice for their respective states/city. However, players, clubs, and states should be aware that Quidditch Australia is anticipating the situation to escalate rapidly in the next 1-2 weeks, and is preparing to suspend all quidditch events across the country or in particular states as appropriate. This may be in line with or in advance of public health recommendations or sanctions implemented by the federal government, state governments, or local councils, and will also take into account whether anyone in the local quidditch community is known to have contracted the virus.
In practical terms, the suspension of quidditch activity means that Quidditch Australia will revoke event sanctioning for all events and will deny sanctioning of any further events until further notice. This means that events such as trainings and tournaments can technically still go ahead at the discretion of organisers/individuals, however, they will not be covered by Quidditch Australia’s insurance, nor will they be endorsed, recognised, or supported by Quidditch Australia. At this stage, penalties (such as barring from future tournaments, membership suspensions and/or cancellations, etc.) are not being considered for individuals, teams, or organisations that break such a suspension.
In the event of a suspension of play, players who have bought a trial membership in order to attend a tournament or training that has had to be cancelled or postponed will be eligible for a refund, or an extension for that trial to one month after the resumption of quidditch activities.
5: What to do in the event of a suspension
Quidditch Australia understands that quidditch provides an important part of regular life to many people. Quidditch is an important component of many players’ physical health, and the community and physical activity is also important to the mental health of much of the community, which will only be further challenged by the broader context of social distancing, isolation, and societal closure.
Given this, we will be aiming to publish suggestions in the next 1-2 weeks of activities that individuals, teams, clubs, and states can do during the suspension period, that can help to maintain physical and mental health, while maintaining social distancing or isolation. Engaging with the community online through forums, discussions, article writing, footage watching, etc. will become increasingly important in the coming weeks to months, and we would like to reassure the community that we will be taking measures to facilitate this. Should anyone have suggestions regarding the above, please reach out to media@quidditchaustralia.org, as we compile resources.
6: World Cup and Dropbears
The COVID-19 situation has obviously thrown much doubt with regards to the planned World Cup in Virginia, USA, scheduled for July, with many international events around the world being cancelled or postponed.
At this stage, the situation is too volatile and with drastic changes week-to-week, it is difficult to predict what the situation will be in July.
At this stage, the IQA has been discussing internally, but we have not heard definitive plans yet. Ruth Creffield (Dropbears Head Manager) and Ajantha Abey (Quidditch Australia Media & Communications Director and Representative to the IQA “Congress”) are both in close regular contact with IQA officials through the IQA members slack, as well as with other National Governing Bodies from around the world, where we are able to discuss the ongoing situation and provide the IQA feedback on whatever plans are presented. We will endeavour to relay any information as soon as possible to the team and general community with regards to World Cup and quidditch activities more generally. To this end, we have set up www.quidditchaustralia.org/covid-19 as a landing page for all quick updates and news and resources for the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Any new information will be able to be found there first.
With regards to upcoming Dropbears training camps, assuming quidditch activities have not been suspended, and the training camp is going ahead as planned, it will be made optional for all players, so that anyone who is not comfortable with travelling or attending such an event is no longer obliged to. A decision will be made by the end of the week (Friday 20th) regarding cancellation of the training camp. The team will be consulted directly regarding future training camps as the situation with COVID-19 and World Cup becomes clearer.
7: State Shield and QUAFL
At this stage, State Shield and QUAFL are scheduled sufficiently far in the future that we are unable to make a call with regards to these events. We are currently operating as if they will be on as normal with regards to our internal planning, preparations, and budgeting for these events, but as the situation develops and things become clearer, it is likely this will change, and we will update you as soon as possible.
8: Final Note
The COVID-19 situation is entirely unprecedented, and it is hard to predict with any certainty what will happen in the coming weeks and months, let alone next few days. All members of the community are urged to educate themselves using the below resources on how to best protect themselves and their communities. We urge people to take appropriate precautions without panicking, use common sense, and to balance the needs of the community with regards to preventing the spread of the disease, with the need for community support and sport. We encourage players to find ways to engage in fitness activities and community support through individual and/or online means where possible, and also encourage players to share these with the broader community.
We also would like take this opportunity to remind everyone that quidditch is #ASportForEveryone. We are an inclusive and supportive community, and in times like this, this is more important than ever, especially towards those who may be experiencing discrimination or racism on account of the disease. We hope the community can come together (metaphorically and/or online) in this time to support one another and find new ways to engage and interact and support one another. Quidditch Australia is here to support all of our members, regardless of race, geography, or disease status, we hope everyone remains safe, and continues to treat one another with kindness and compassion, throughout this emergency.
Further information and resources:
Health.gov.au - Australian Federal Government live updates and information including fact sheets, government recommendations, policies, action plans, etc.
Especially useful include:
Posters
National “Stop the Spread” Campaign material
WHO - Information and resources and live updates from the World Health Organisation
John Hopkins University - Covid-19 dashboard for basic information from a leading health research organisation
Nature Latest - Live Updates on the coronavirus from a leading scientific journal
“How canceled events and self-quarantines save lives, in one chart” - Vox, on ‘flattening the curve’