COVID BULLETIN 4

Schools Regatta 2 – 5-6 February 2022, LBIRC

Introduction

As most will be aware, approval to continue to conduct regattas is subject to compliance with the terms of the approval provided by Public Health Tasmania.  An extended meeting of the Schools Commission was held last evening (Tuesday 1^st February) to provide the opportunity for input by all school Directors of Rowing and by clubs supporting school rowers.  Rowing Tasmania appreciates the contributions and constructive approach of all participants.

Provisions applying to the LBI Site in general

As previously advised:

• If you are unwell, please do not attend the regatta;
• Be double vaccinated, wear a mask, wash/sanitise your hands, social distance;
• Check in on arrival at LBI – please be ready so as to minimise delay and queueing at the check-in point;
• No camping irrespective of postcode/region.  There are a very small number of exemptions including boatrace officials working within the field of play and in the secretary’s office;
• No access to Reeconians Centre and cafe apart from Boat Race Officials and café Volunteers;
• No seating outside the Reeconians Centre or Coffee Shop (including inside the coffee shop);
• The apron on the Reeconians Centre will be partially blocked off to pedestrian traffic;
• Access to the Regatta Office and Numbers will be from the southern end of the Reeconians Centre only;
• Masks are to be worn at all times unless actively eating or drinking.  For clarity, carrying a drink bottle or sucking a ChupaChup to circumvent this requirement is unacceptable; and
• Weigh in for coxswains of Open crews will be conducted outside the entrance to the Reeconians Centre- Athletes with Coaches only.  Coxswains need to weigh in once only.

Provisions relating to competition

The following include standing arrangements for LBIRC and the boat park, and arrangements agreed with participants in the Schools Commission meeting.  It is a shared view that there should be a constructive approach to ensuring this (and future regattas) can continue:

• Each school to arrange a volunteer roster of Covid Monitors.  Fluoro vests to be collected from the Secretary’s Office.  This is a constructive compliance role, ensuring mask wearing, social distancing and minimising risk of transmission is practiced;
• Attention to be paid to sanitising equipment between uses to prevent potential transmission on oar handles, cox boxes etc;
• Athletes to only remove masks when HANDS ON to proceed to boat; masks to be replaced when the boat is placed back on trestles;
• No sharing of water bottles;
• Social distancing in pre- and post-race meetings with coaches

Sanctions

There is general agreement that compliance should be pursued in a constructive and educational way, with an understanding that involuntary lapses of standards occur from time to time.  However, at Schools Regatta 1 there were instances of extensive sustained failure to comply with the provisions of the Public Health permit.  Should this occur at Schools Regatta 2, sanctions may be imposed at individual, crew, or school level, either:

• In relation to participation in competition; or
• Continued permission to be present at the venue.