COVID-19: Update for NSW

/

Quidditch Australia and Quidditch NSW have been monitoring the outbreak situation in Casula, particularly affecting the Liverpool and Campbelltown areas in South Western Sydney.

At this stage, we are still looking at how the situation is developing and whether it remains localised or continues to spread, and we encourage teams to take precautions that make sense for where they are.

For example, teams who train in the Liverpool/Campbelltown area or who have players frequenting that area should take additional precautions such as stopping contact training, minimising numbers at trainings, and other measures from Steps 1-2 of the QARPP.

Teams more centrally located in Sydney should also be taking further precautions regarding the number of people at trainings, the level of contact, and how many people from different clubs and areas of the city are in attendance.

Teams/players located away from Sydney (e.g. Newcastle) may continue as normal, but should avoid travelling/contact in Sydney where possible.

NSW is a big state with vastly different situations in different parts for different teams, so we are encouraging teams to take what precautions make sense for their level of risk.

The best evidence regarding spread of COVID-19 suggests that the risk of transmission in outdoor environments is substantially lower than inside, especially aerosolised . Nevertheless, transmission through touch remains a significant risk, especially in a sporting context. For this reason, maintaining hygiene protocols for as long as trainings remain on is absolutely essential, and limiting opportunities for spread through physical distancing is critical. This includes:

  • No sharing bibs, brooms, bottles, towels, headbands, other clothing, etc.

  • Regularly sanitise balls, hands, gloves, etc.

  • Do not attend quidditch events if you have any cold or flu symptoms at all, have been in close contact with anyone with any symptoms, or have been to a location with a known case of COVID-19, or have been to Victoria in the last 14 days.

  • Avoid holding in person social events, especially held in close quarters / indoors.

We further recommend that players consider limiting the number of clubs they train with, and further remind clubs that keeping records of attendance and contact details is absolutely essential, regardless of and especially if people from outside your club are attending your trainings. We also strongly recommend teams fill out a COVID Safety Plan (remember that this is required if you have more than 20 people at trainings).

The NSW Government appears to be slowly increasing restrictions on indoor venues again, and while the risk of transmission outdoors is low, if cases continue to rise, Quidditch Australia will be considering increasing restrictions again for quidditch as well. We expect to be able to make a more definitive decision by the start of next week.

We thank everyone for their patience and precaution in this time of uncertainty, and urge everyone to stay safe, be familiar with requirements and regulations and advice in the Resumption of Play Plan, and look out for one another.