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Responding to COVID-19

As the advice of health authorities can vary depending on individual circumstances, this information is provided for guidance only based on the general advice provided to Football NSW by NSW Health.
Where advice is provided directly to players, clubs or Associations by health authorities, the advice of those health authorities is to take precedence. In all cases, clubs and Associations should consult with the Service NSW 24 hour Covid Helpline.

24 HOUR HELPLINES

Individuals – call the National Coronavirus Health line on 1800 020 080
Clubs – call Service NSW Covid-19 Helpline on 13 77 88

For someone feeling unwell
Someone with cold or flu like symptoms or feeling unwell should:

  • Self isolate;
  • Refer to the Coronavirus Health Direct Symptom Checker;
  • Get tested at a COVID-19 Testing clinic; and/or
  • Call the National Coronavirus Health line on 1800 020 080 (24 hour helpline).

If a club is advised that a player has come into close contact with a positive case of Covid-19
The general advice is:

  • The person must call their GP or the National Coronavirus Health line on 1800 020 080 for advice;
  • The person must follow the advice of their GP and/or health authorities;
  • The person will be advised to self-isolate immediately for 14 days;
  • The person will be advised to get tested for Covid-19; and
  • The club should contact Service NSW Covid Helpline on 13 77 88 for further advice.

If a club is advised that a player is being tested for Covid-19
The general advice is:

  • The club should ask the player to advise the club of the results of their test when the results are known;
  • The club should stand the player’s team down until the results are known;
  • If any other player feels unwell or becomes symptomatic, they need to self-isolate immediately and get tested;
  • Team members should contact the National Coronavirus Health line on 1800 020 080 for advice; and
  • The club should contact Service NSW Covid Helpline on 13 77 88 for advice.

If club is advised of a confirmed case of Covid-19 in their club
The general advice is:

  • The club should notify its Association and the Association should notify Football NSW as soon as possible (NPL clubs should notify Football NSW directly).
  • The club and the Association should immediately contact NSW Health on 13 77 88 – press 2 and ask for the Covid specialist line.
  • Club/Association organises an immediate clean of all amenities at the venue. The venue must not be used until the clean is completed.
  • The club must immediately stand down the player’s team.
  • The person with Covid-19 and their family will be advised by health authorities to immediately self-isolate (refer NSW Health self isolation guidelines).
  • The NSW Health Contact Tracing Team will contact the player and will undertake contact tracing to determine who has been in close contact or casual contact with the positive case.
  • In due course, the NSW Health Contact Tracing Team will then contact the club for a full list of team members. They will then assess the circumstances in relation to close and casual contact and advise anyone who needs to self-isolate, get tested or monitor for symptoms. They may require further details of members and details of the Association so that they can contact opposition teams.
  • The advice given by NSW Health to the individual and the club may vary depending on the results of the contact tracing.

The following persons will be required to self isolate for a full 14 days and get tested for Covid-19:

  • All members of the player’s team including team officials; and
  • Any other person that the player is known to have come into close contact with at the club. These persons can seek advice from their GP or the National Helpline on 1800 020 080.
  • Any other person advised by NSW Health to self isolate and get tested.

Furthermore:

  • Any other teams that the player played against may also be required to self-isolate and get tested if they are identified as coming into close contact with the player. This will be advised by the NSW Health Contact Tracing Team once they have assessed the levels of contact.
  • If the player did not play any games themselves, but his/her team had been in contact with the player while infected and has since played against other teams, the Association must:
    – contact those clubs and teams to advise them that players need to be monitored for symptoms, and
    – advise those clubs and teams that if any players in those teams become symptomatic, they need to self-isolate immediately and get tested.  For advice call the National Helpline on 1800 020 080.
  • Anyone else at the venue where the positive player was present during 14 days prior to testing should be advised to monitor for symptoms and if they become symptomatic, they need to self-isolate immediately and get tested.  For advice call the National Helpline on 1800 020 080.
  • Persons who have tested positive should only return to sport when they are cleared of Covid-19 and are no longer required to self isolate. (refer NSW Health self isolation guidelines).
  • All participants, clubs and Associations are required to follow the advice of health authorities at all times

Responding to Reported School Cases of Covid-19

Where a school is closed due to Covid-19 or a school notice or NSW Health notice has been issued due to a student or students testing positive to Covid-19, students will be advised to self-isolate as a precaution until contact tracing can be undertaken by NSW Health to identify students and teachers at the school who have come into “close contact” with the positive case/s.

When this occurs:

  • Students identified by NSW Health as “close contacts” will be advised by NSW Health to self-isolate and get tested;
  • Once contact tracing is completed by NSW Health the school will usually be permitted to re-open, however in some cases schools will remain closed for a period of time for deep cleaning;
  • Once contact tracing is completed by NSW Health and other students are advised that they are no longer required to self isolate, those students who are not required to self-isolate will be required to monitor for symptoms and if they become symptomatic they will then be required to self-isolate and get tested.

Therefore:

  • any players who have been identified as a “positive case” are not permitted to participate in football until they are cleared of Covid-19 and are no longer required by NSW Health to self-isolate;
  • any players who have been identified as a “close contact” and are self-isolating are not permitted to participate in football until they are no longer required by NSW Health to self-isolate;
  • any players who attend the same school are not permitted to participate in football until NSW Health has completed contact tracing to identify students who are “close contacts”;
  • once contact tracing is completed, any players who attend the same school can continue to participate in football as usual, except those who are required to self-isolate;
  • the teams that players who attend the same school usually play in can continue to participate in football as usual, minus any players who are self-isolating;
  • players who are siblings of students in self-isolation or are siblings of players who attend the same school are permitted to continue to participate in football as usual, unless advised by NSW Health to also self-isolate; and
  • all players participating in football should continue to monitor for symptoms and self-isolate and get tested if they become symptomatic.
  • Where Covid-19 cases occur in a school and clubs/teams are affected, the club should contact the relevant Association.

What is Close Contact?
A close contact is someone who has been face to face for at least 15 minutes, or been in the same closed space for at least 2 hours, as someone who has tested positive for the COVID-19 when that person was infectious.
If you are a close contact of a person with confirmed COVID-19 infection, you need to be isolated for 14 days after you last saw that person. Home isolation applies to all close contacts, even if you are well. It is important to monitor your health and report any symptoms as early as possible.
Refer to:

What is Casual Contact?
A casual contact is defined as someone who has had face-to-face contact for less than 15 minutes cumulative over the course of a week, or been in the same closed space for less than 2 hours, with a person with a COVID-19 infection while they were infectious. This may include healthcare workers, other patients, or visitors who were in the same closed healthcare space as a case, but for shorter periods than those required for a close contact. Other closed settings might include schools or offices.
If you are a casual contact, you do not need to self-isolate unless you have symptoms (although the close contact does). You should monitor for symptoms for 14 days after your last casual contact with the person with COVID-19 (refer to Casual Contacts Factsheet).

Participants who have attended an identified Covid-19 Location
Any participants who have attended an identified Covid-19 Location should be directed to this link for advice Latest NSW Health Covid-19 Locations and updated advices.

Further Information

FOOTBALL NSW ASSOCIATIONS