Update on Social Distancing and Safety Protocols
Dear L&A OSC Families,
We would like to relay to families of the communiqué sent to us by Swim BC and as provided by the Public Health Order. Due Dr Henry’s (Provincial Health Officer) announcement of return to Phase 2 of Sports and the publication of the Public Health Order on December 3 11:30 AM, here are the implications to us (Quote from Public Health Order on Gatherings and Events December 4):
18. A person may permit a place, other than a private residence or vacation accommodation, to be used for, or may provide, sport for children or youth if the following conditions are met:a. participants maintain a physical distance of three metres from one another and do not engage in handshaking, high fives, hugging or similar behaviour;b. the focus is on activities that have a low risk of COVID-19 virus transmission;c. there are no spectators unless the presence of a spectator is necessary in order to provide care to a child or youth.
As a general reminder, Our Illness Policy (Return to Sport Plan, Page 6) that you have agreed to asks families to "Inform an individual in a position of authority (coach, team manager) immediately if, you feel any symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat and painful swallowing, stuffy or runny nose, loss of sense of smell, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea or diarrhea.” When informing, please email the symptoms you are experiencing as well.
It is our expectation that ALL families will answer these screening questions PRIOR to coming to practice. If your child or your family answer "NO" to ANY of these, please DO NOT show up to practice.
- Are you physically and mentally healthy, no symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, difficult breathing, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, abnormal muscle pain, headache, sore throat, painful swallowing, runny nose, new loss of taste, gastrointestinal illness) of COVID-19
- Have I (or my family members) been present locally and not travelled internationally within the last 14 days?
- I have not been in contact or cared for anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19?
Of direct importance to our membership and swimmers is the importance of our shared swimming learning space as safe as possible to help minimize the potential spread of COVID-19 amongst our participants by maintaining social distancing and going through the COVID-19 screening questionnaire honestly. The coaches have asked swimmers to keep approximately arms width apart during dryland exercises and swimming. We expect families to talk to their child/ren as well about social distancing. As per our Return to Sport Plan, should a swimmer fail to comply, we may take steps such as removal from practice environment.
Thank you for your advanced cooperation
L&A OSC Staff
