Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory illness caused by a new virus and symptoms can range from mild illness to pneumonia and people may experience fever, flu-like symptoms or shortness of breath. Within the Oceania Region, the people most at risk of getting the virus are those who have recently been in mainland China, Iran and Italy or have been in close contact with someone who is a confirmed case of COVID-19. As of 11 March 2020, The World Health Organisation has made the assessment that COVID-19 is now characterized as a pandemic.
For current information on the affected regions globally please see:
· The World Health Organisation: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports
· John Hopkins University dashboard: https://gisanddata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6
COVID-19 is increasingly impacting the global community and is a rapidly evolving issue. At this point in time there are confirmed cases in Australia and New Zealand but no known cases in the remaining Oceania Rugby region of operation. Regional Government’s Department of Health are currently monitoring COVID-19 and providing advice that is regularly updated, these include:
· Australia:https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert
· Fiji: http://www.health.gov.fj/
· New Zealand: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus
· Samoa: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus
Oceania Rugby strongly recommends that member unions, committees, staff and associated persons follow the advice issued by their country of residence in conjunction with the advice from the country they are operating in at any given time.
In addition the government advice the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) are providing regular updates on their website: https://ais.gov.au/health-wellbeing/covid-19/_nocache#covid-19_and_sport_faq
The best way to prevent against the spread of infections such as COVID-19 is to practice good hygiene, including:
regularly washing hands with soap and water, see annex one for further information;
using a tissue and covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing;
avoiding close contact with others if you are unwell; and
ensuring public spaces/equipment (such as meeting space, desk, club changing rooms etc.) are regularly and thoroughly cleaned.
There is a risk of transmission of infections in team sport environments, therefore any participant who is currently suffering from any flu-like symptoms or is feeling unwell, regardless of their recent travel, should refrain from playing/training/or delivering training and should seek medical advice.
Participants should also follow the advice and restrictions set out by their relevant Department of Health relating to isolation following travel or contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases. Any participant who is subject to the outlined travel restrictions or has been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case should not attend meetings/courses/matches or any other activities for 14 days following travel or contact.
There is not currently any advice that recommends those within the Oceania Region refrain from attending sporting matches, however everyone is advised to stay up to date with the latest relevant Department of Health advice.
OCEANIA COUNTRIES CURRENT ENTRY REQUIREMENTS (11 March 2020)
Information about COVID-19, including overseas travel advice and restrictions, changes often and the current situation is being closely monitored by all Governments and Airlines. Annex two provides entry requirements and restrictions for countries within the Oceania Rugby area of operation as known on 11th March 2020. In addition to this you can source information from the following which are updated daily:
· https://www.worldaware.com/resources/intelligence-alerts/sars-cov-2-and-covid-19-coronavirus-intelligence-center
· https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/news-and-updates/coronavirus-covid-19
