1. Cleaning and hygiene

Frequent cleaning and good hygiene are fundamental to reducing transmission of COVID-19.

Hand hygiene is the single most important way to prevent the spread of infection. Soap and water should be used for hand hygiene when hands are visibly dirty. An alcohol-based hand rub can be used at other times (for example, when hands have been contaminated from contact with environmental surfaces). Cleaning hands also helps to reduce contamination of surfaces and objects that may be touched by other people. Touching of the face, especially the mouth, nose, and eyes should be avoided. Examples of personal hygiene measures that should be promoted include hand-washing and covering the mouth and nose with a tissue or sleeve during coughing/sneezing.

For the purposes of this direction, staff must clean and disinfect surfaces - both steps are essential. The first step is cleaning, which means wiping dirt and germs off a surface. Common household detergent products for cleaning can be used and these are stocked at supermarkets. Cleaning alone does not kill germs.

The next step is to disinfect the surface. Disinfection means using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces. Again, supermarkets stock common household disinfection products – it is important to use products that are labelled “disinfectant” and to follow the instructions on the label.

Hands should always be washed with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub used before putting on and after removing gloves used for cleaning.

For information and procedures on cleaning and disinfection requirements, visit the Department of Health and Human Services website.

What infection control measures will you introduce to ensure all participants and spectators are maintaining personal hygiene? *

How will personal hygiene and cleaning of facilities and equipment be maintained to minimise transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19)? *

Have you increased regular cleaning schedules for common use areas? *

• Yes
• No

Do you have protocols in place regarding the use of water fountains, taps and any other facilities that are shared? *

Indoor facilities have multiple water fountains and taps for participants to fill up bottles and maintain hydration; many of these are made from steel which poses a higher risk of transmission. Can facilities provide bottled water and prohibit use of such shared facilities?

2. Communal facilities such as clubrooms and change rooms

From 11:59pm on 21 June, communal facilities (e.g. communal clubrooms and change rooms) in sports and recreation venues may be used, subject to the four square metre rule. Measures must be implemented to ensure close contact between people can be limited to adhere to physical distancing of 1.5 metres.

What protocols will facility managers put in place regarding use of communal clubrooms and change rooms to ensure they are cleaned regularly and adhere to the four square metre rule? *

Some examples for reducing risk and controlling measures are:
• Use of signage to advise the maximum number of people allowed in each enclosed space
• Consider closing off some seats/benches, lockers/cubicles to make it clear how many users are allowed in the areas
• Use floor markings placed 1.5 metres apart
• Twice daily cleaning and disinfection of communal facilities
• Use of signage to encourage users to minimise the time spent in change rooms or encourage them to shower/change at home

3. Physical contact activities

Physical distancing decreases the risk of transmission by reducing incidence of contact with other persons through shaking hands, hugging or tackling. The Victorian Chief Health Officer’s Directions require that adult participants over 18 years of age take reasonable steps to maintain 1.5 metres distance from all other people.

For activities that in normal circumstances contain physical contact or close interaction with others, what protocols or modifications to activities can be implemented to ensure adults aged 19 years and over remain 1.5 metres apart? *

4. Arrival and departure of participants, officials, parents or carers

Physical distancing decreases the risk of transmission by reducing incidence of contact between people and groups. The control of facilities and management of areas where people and groups might gather will reduce the risk of coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission.

Contact  tracing is an integral part of slowing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) and will be implemented at community sport and recreation facilities as they reopen.

Facility operators will be required to request and, if provided, record the first name and phone number of every person that attends for more than 15 minutes, and the date and time of their attendance. In order to reduce congestion at entry to indoor facilities, facility managers should work with team managers and clubs to efficiently collect these details to avoid bottlenecks upon entry.

What measures have you put in place for managing entry and exit points, separating assembly areas, adjustments to activity timings and maintaining physical distancing of people and groups, especially where multiple spaces within the same facility exists? *

Most indoor stadiums have emergency exit doors at each court, many of which lead out to the car park, so can these can be utilised as exits to minimise foot traffic through the foyer and main entry/exit.

Does your facility have the capability of accommodating extra entry and exit points of your indoor spaces? *

• Yes
• No

How will your facility manage record keeping requirements for those attending the facility? *

5. Spectators/gatherings

Only those necessary to support participation should attend training and competitions.

Spectators for outdoor training and competitions must abide by gathering restrictions – spectators should be in groups of no more than 10 and spread out around the ground or venue. The group of 10 does not include those necessary for the activity to occur, including an umpire or trainer and a parent or carer supporting a person with a disability to participate.

If indoors, spectators should not attend – just those necessary to support the activity (such a coaches or umpires) or participants (such as a parent or carer supporting a person with disability to participate).

What protocols will be in place to ensure that spectators are gathered in groups of no more than 10 and spread out around the ground or venue? *

6. Sharing equipment

In combination with good hygiene practices, an important measure is to promote behaviours such as not sharing drink bottles, towels, and limiting the shared use of equipment. Equipment that touches the head or face or cannot be effectively cleaned (for example, if made from soft materials or clothing) should not be shared. Where sharing equipment cannot be avoided, equipment with smooth surfaces should be cleaned between sessions.

What modifications can be made to ensure there is no transmission of coronavirus (COVID-19) through the sharing of equipment, contact with equipment and/or contact with any surfaces where participants may be at risk of infection? *

7. Group/team activity

For indoor physical recreation, adults will be able to practise indoors with up to 20 people per zone, as long as the four-square metre rule is met. Individual group classes must have no more than 10 participants, unless all participants in the group are aged 18 years and under.

Multiple zones can be created within a large indoor space. To be considered a ‘zone’, the area must be for the exclusive use of a group and be no less than 200 square metres.

For organised community sport, both indoors and outdoors, the minimum number participants required to conduct the sport can participate in the activity. The rules of the sport governing body (e.g. the State Sporting Association) determine the number that can participate (i.e. the number who would normally be involved in a match or training, including players on the field/court and allowed substitutes). This applies even if it exceeds the density quotient or group limit on the venue.

For example, 20 players for a game of basketball; 26 players for a game of water polo. Please note,  that as these activities are considered contact-sport, only those aged 18 or under can participate.

For team activities, what protocols are in place to enable a staged return to activities of small groups in non-contact formats? *

Are changes required to participant behaviour during sport activities in addition to no shaking hands and high fives? *

• Yes
• No

8. Indoor physical recreation facilities (including fitness gyms and gymnasiums)

Activities reintroduced to indoor stadiums, gyms, fitness centres or health clubs need to be done in a cautious and considered manner. The principles of physical distancing, personal hygiene measures, cleaning equipment and implementing the density ratio of one person per four square metres still apply.

From 11:59pm on 21 June, multiple separate ‘zones’ may be created within a larger indoor space. To be considered a ‘zone’, the area must be no less than 200 square metres. For physical recreation, adults will be able to practise indoors with up to 20 people per zone, as long as the four-square metre rule is met. Individual group classes must have no more than 10 participants, unless all participants in the group are aged 18 years and under.

For community sport, the rules of the sport determine the number that can participate in a group (e.g. the number who would normally be involved in a match, including players on the court/rink and allowed substitutes).

Facilities must also put in place measures to manage the movement of people through communal areas, such as entrances, foyers, and change rooms, for example by staggering class or session times.

For information and procedures on cleaning and disinfection requirements, visit the Environmental cleaning and disinfection principles for COVID-19.

What measures will be put in place to create separate zones within a larger indoor space? *

How will you control access to the facility to ensure separation of groups? *

How will you ensure that the number of people allowed in each enclosed space or 200m2 zone is maintained? *

How will you ensure adult group activity classes do not exceed 10 participants? *

What measures will be put in place to manage the movement of people through communal areas, such as entrances, foyers, and change rooms including the staggering of session times? *

What are the cleaning protocols and procedures for high touch surfaces and the ability for sanitisation between users? *

9. Public Aquatic Centres (indoor and outdoor)

Swim centres or public aquatic centres must prepare to respond appropriately, effectively and consistent with advice from health authorities. Life Saving Victoria is preparing tools and resources to guide businesses and facilities plan for a phased reopening of public pools. Visit Life Saving Victoria for further information.

Check with your local council to find out if your swimming pool is open, the hours of operation and the processes your local council has in place to protect your health and safety.

A pool that is operated for the exclusive use of a single school at any one time for educational purposes can operate the pool without restriction on the number of participants.

How will you control access to the swimming pool and the centre to ensure only 20 patrons per swimming pool is maintained? *

What education and communications for swimming clubs and recreational users will be available to support effective implementation of the record keeping, cleaning and signage requirements? *

Have you consulted with Life Saving Victoria about specific guidance for the safe operation of swimming pools during the period of restrictions? *

• Yes
• No

10. Protocols

What protocols or processes are in place to encourage participants, officials, parents and carers to undertake a self-assessment to ensure they do not participate or attend while unwell with symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)? *

What protocols do you have in place for people who present to training with symptoms consistent with coronavirus (COVID-19) (fever or respiratory symptoms such as cough, sore throat and shortness of breath)? *

How will you coordinate and communicate any changes to the directions to your clubs, members and stakeholders? *

How have you reflected the restrictions imposed by the <a href="https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/restrictions-restricted-postcodes-covid-19" target="_blank">restricted postcodes directive</a> in your return to play plan? *

How will you communicate the restrictions that apply to people from restricted postcodes to your members and participants? *

How will you undertake to ascertain that participants are not from metropolitan Melbourne or Mitchell Shire? *

11. Communication

Communicating coronavirus (COVID-19) risk mitigation strategies to participants is vital. Setting and promoting expectations for required behaviours prior to recommencing activities will be crucial to ensuring activities remain safe for all participants.

List the measures you will use to communicate and provide guidance to participants and clubs? *

Will coaches/association staff be educated on specific risk mitigation strategies to ensure guidance is being adhered to? *

• Yes
• No

Do you have protocols in place to advise participants, volunteers and staff to not attend if they are feeling unwell? *

• Yes
• No

12. Indoor Facility Staff ⁺⁺

Site-specific staff and personnel are required to ensure efficient operation of an indoor facility and that the guidance is being adhered too.

What strategies are in place to support staff working in this environment? *

What measures will be implemented to keep staff at minimal risk during service, cleaning, cash-handling and management of the facility? *

13. Non-Sport Activities ⁺⁺

Many facilities accommodate services that aren’t sport related; for example, childcare or children programming activities. Many of which are facilitated in separate rooms, by external providers.

What strategies will be implemented to support physical distancing, hygiene and cleaning in these services? *

Will external providers be educated on specific risk mitigation strategies to ensure guidance is being adhered to? *

14. Casual Facility Users ⁺⁺

Many facilities offer casual access to patrons wishing to play sports such as basketball and badminton.

What strategies are in place to ensure that contact details are requested, and recorded on a casual basis? *

How will you communicate expectations regarding use of the facility to casual users, and changes to those expectations over time? *

⁺⁺Contact tracing has become an integral part of flattening the curve and should be implemented at indoor facilities for casual users who are otherwise unknown.