With heightened risk across the community and Australia at this time, the State Government announced a statewide weeklong lockdown on Tuesday 20 July, which included the cancellation of all sporting competitions and training.
From Wednesday 28 July, the State Government will manage a staged return to lower restrictions.
While training (and other activities such as club-based Auskick) can re-commence from 28 July, all being well, competition can resume next weekend (Saturday 7 August).
The following restrictions impacting sporting clubs and licenced venues are in place from 12:01am Wednesday 28 July:
- Density requirement of 1 person per 4sqm (including in licenced venue, changerooms and other areas)
- Density requirement of 1 person per 8sqm inside gyms and indoor fitness facilities
- Masks must be worn inside shared public areas (ie: to be worn inside licenced venue by patrons while not eating or drinking)
- Masks must be worn inside gyms and indoor fitness facilities, except during exercise
- Medical Treatment Staff such as sports trainers, physios, doctors etc must wear a mask while delivering athlete treatment
- No singing in indoor spaces (club songs MUST be sung outside on the oval or another appropriate outdoor space)
- Seated consumption of food and drinks (inside and outside)
- No communal food such as buffets
Wearing Masks
- Masks must be worn inside any shared public areas (ie: to be worn inside licenced venue by patrons while not eating or drinking, in any elevators)
- Masks must be worn inside gyms and indoor fitness facilities, except during exercise (this includes any gyms inside changerooms)
- Medical Treatment Staff such as sports trainers, physios, doctors etc must wear a mask while delivering athlete treatment. Athletes must wear a mask if receiving treatment inside, unless receiving treatment that requires removal of the mask (ie: lip/nose/relevant facial area being treated)
- Masks are also strongly recommended in any other indoor area, however not mandatory inside changerooms at this time
More information and health advice on masks can be viewed at https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/conditions/infectious+diseases/covid-19/about+covid-19/protecting+yourself+and+others+from+covid-19/face+masks#Indoorpublicplaces
Please note that other directions/restrictions can be found here – https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/restrictions-and-responsibilities/activities-and-gatherings
SANFL has also updated our Return to Play protocols document on the Return to Play website, however highlight some key detail below:
Key Principles to Return to Play
- Density requirements, and/or maintaining 1.5m apart where possible must be observed where possible
- QR Code and Manual Check In Systems in place
- Presence of COVID Marshals
- “Get In/Get Out” should be observed where possible
- Thorough cleaning and sanitisation must occur before and after each training including spot cleaning of changerooms in between user groups, and cleaning of equipment
- Hygiene and testing protocols previously implemented will still apply (including no shared drink bottles, lolly bowls etc)
- Spectators and observers are discouraged during this time, however parents/caregivers can attend for the purpose of supervision.