HHMBA COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan

Revised April 5, 2021

* ’s Return to Sport Guidelines updated April 5, 2021.

The underlying objective of this plan should someone test positive within the HHMBA is to ensure that the virus does not spread any further and that the infected person(s) is removed and receive immediate care from health professionals and to provide guidance to the members, coaches and Executive of the HHMBA..

1. Pre-Pandemic/Pandemic Phase Responsibility

Planning and Coordination A. Determine COVID-19 Emergency Response Board of Directors Plan (ERP) lead for organization. ERP Lead=Association B. Create an Emergency Response Plan for President, John Behara COVID-19. C. Executive members will watch “What Local Associations Need to Know,” and “What You Need to Know-Required Resources and Important Points” videos from ONDeck app. D. Executive members will review Baseball Ontario’s Return to Sport Protocols.* E. Executive members will familiarize themselves with all videos and resources on Baseball Ontario’s ONDeck app for Associations, for Coaches, for Participants, Parents/Guardians and for Umpires. F. Adopt and implement Baseball Ontario’s Return to Play protocols. * G. Executive members will ensure that they educate all internal organizational leaders of Directors of Travel Ball ERP Procedures, including Head Coaches of each Travel Team. (Including ALL videos, education resources, videos, and waivers, declarations, and acknowledgements under ONDeck section for Associations, for Coaches, for Participants, Parents/Guardians and for Umpires.) H. Head Coaches will ensure that they educate all coaches, players and families of ERP Coaches, Players, Procedures (Including ALL videos, education Parents/Guardians resources, videos, and waivers, declarations, and acknowledgements under ONDeck section for Associations, for Coaches, and for Participants, Parents/Guardians) I. Written communication plan flow chart if a

positive test for COVID-19 in the baseball HHMBA Executive organization. J. Verify Baseball Ontario, Province of Ontario and/or local Municipal government Director of Communication permissions for Return to Play implementation HHMBA Executive following Baseball Ontario’s Return to Play protocols of implementation. K. Ensure that team has the following PPE Equipment: a. Face masks Individual Team b. 70% alcohol Hand Sanitizer Coach/Manager c. 70% alcohol disinfectant wipes d. Nitrile gloves e. 1 Face Shield per team L. Teams using training facilities from other municipalities will ensure that they are aware of the facilities’ COVID protocols and ensure Individual Team that the OBA Guidelines are being Coach/Manager implemented at the minimum. (sanitization of touch points, hand sanitization, etc). M. Effective February 19, 2021 Halton Region has moved to RED restrictions. From the Provincial guidelines, “Individuals from higher transmission regions should avoid travel to lower transmission regions except for essential reasons.” According to OBA, “You cannot travel to a centre with less restrictions in order to conduct baseball activities. Within your own community you can follow public health guidelines at an indoor facility in the same covid zone.” Teams must remain in facilities in the same coloured zone, not cross over a zone of lower colour and follow the reduced number of participants/maximum training time, as per the Provincial guidelines. N. Change April 5, 2021: The OBA’s position on engagement of outdoor activities is now based on the location of the home park of the team you are properly rostered to. For example, if a player lives in Hamilton (currently in grey) but is rostered on a team in Burlington (currently red), they can participate with their team to the extent that the team is able to practice (no games or scrimmages) within the restrictions of the red zone. O. For indoor facilities, the local association that ERP Lead or Director of rosters the team must confirm with and Logistics and Planning. receive approval from their local public health unit that players who live outside their boundaries are allowed to come in for team

activities. Approval to be filed with Baseball Ontario. (No individual coach will approach the Health Department or Town of Halton Hills.)

2. Possible Exposure Responsibility

Announcement of exposure to a possible case of ERP LEAD=Association COVID-19. President, John Behara A player, coach, fan, announces that they are being tested for COVID-19.

IF A HHMBA Player/Coach/Umpire/Spectator Coaches, players, umpires, In the situation where a parents, HHMBA Directors of player/coach/umpire/spectator informs the Travel, HHMBA Director of Association that they are exhibiting signs of COVID- Communications, HHMBA 19 and have been advised to obtain a COVID test, Director of Umpires, Director the person receiving the report needs to reach out to of Logistics and Planning. the ERP Lead. The ERP Lead would then commence the Communication train, by reaching out to the Association’s Director of Communication, the HHMBA Directors of Travel- Association’s Director of Umpires and the Directors of Bob DeZeeuw and Scott Travel Ball. Stubberfield.

The appropriate Director of Travel Ball will determine HHMBA Director of which opposing teams and which communities that Communications-Dee Dee the team had competed in within the last 7 days, Ridley where this player/coach/fan has been present, and pass this information to the ERP Lead. HHMBA Director of Umpires- Dee Dee Ridley The ERP Lead will connect with the HHMBA coach and ask for contact information for the other coaches Director of Logistics and within their team’s bubble. Either the ERP Lead or Planning-Natalie Currah the Coach will reach out the other teams to let them know of the possible exposure.

The Director of Communications will distribute the Possible Contact Letter to the HHMBA Coach for distribution to team members.

Players, umpires and coaches will need to self- monitor.

To err on the side of caution, all in-person team activities for this team are suspended, pending a response from the Region of Halton's Health

Department or confirmation of the test result from the individual.

The Director of Umpires will connect with the game officials and let them know about the possible exposure. Due to the very limited exposure of the umpires, as long as they are self-monitoring, they can continue to fill the role of umpire within the Association.

The Director of Logistics and Planning will communicate with TOHH to inform them of possible COVID case.

If the Visiting Team Announces that there is possible COVID-19 Exposure

The same process as above will be followed, but the Directors of Travel, and/or ERP Lead (or coach) will not need to reach out to the other teams in the bubble. Internal communications with players, coaches and officials will still need to be completed.

Negative Test Result is Reported

Once a negative test result is reported, teams are welcome to resume in-person events as a team. Communication to come from Director of Communication or ERP Lead. Director of Logistics and Planning will communicate with Town.

Positive Test Result is Reported

Move on to the Positive Test Phase.

3. Positive Test Phase Responsibility

Confirmation of a COVID-19 positive test within SPOC=ERP LEAD your organization. ERP LEAD=Association Communication System President, John Behara Consistent with Federal and Provincial/Territorial privacy regulations, acts, laws, etc. coaches, staff, officials, and families of players should self-report to the single point of contact (SPOC), also known as the “ERP Lead” if: ● they have symptoms of COVID-19, or ● a positive test for COVID-19 is recorded,

● were exposed to someone with COVID-19 within the last 14 days.

Note: See ERP Communications Flow Chart and end of this section.

Advise Sick Individuals to Stay Home Coaches, Officials

Sick coaches, staff members, officials, or players should not return until they are well enough based on Public Health Agency of Canada and Provincial Health Authority guidelines.

Isolate and/or Transport Those Who are Sick at Coaches, Parents HHMBA Activities

Make sure that coaches, staff, officials, players, and families know that sick individuals should not attend a practice, game or other activity, and that they should notify officials if they (staff) or their child (families) become sick with COVID-19 symptoms, test positive for COVID-19,or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19symptoms or a confirmed or suspected case.

Coaches, staff, officials, and players with COVID-19 symptoms (i.e., fever, cough, shortness of breath) at any club activity must be immediately separated and isolated. Individuals who are sick should go home or to a healthcare facility, depending on how severe their symptoms are, contact their Family Physician, and follow Health Agency guidance for caring for oneself and others who are sick. Individuals who have had close contact with a person who has symptoms should be separated and sent home as well. If symptoms develop, individuals and families should follow Health Agency guidelines for caring for oneself and others who are sick.

Establish procedures for safely transporting anyone HHMBA Executive and who is sick to their home or to a healthcare facility. Coaches That means having parent contact information readily available; parents within a safe, socially distanced but easily accessible waiting area; or if you are calling an ambulance or bringing someone to the hospital. If calling an ambulance, please alert them that the person may have COVID19.

Clean and Disinfect Areas Coaches to appoint person

Close off areas used by a sick person and do not use over 16 years of age to be these areas until after cleaning and disinfecting them designated “Cleaner” for each (for outdoor areas, this includes surfaces or shared event. objects in the area). Ensure safe and correct use and storage of cleaning and disinfection products, including storing them securely away from children.

Notify Local Health Officials and Close Contacts

In accordance with Federal, Provincial and Territorial ERP Lead privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations, the ERP Lead should notify Associations, club staff, officials, and families immediately of any case of COVID-19 while maintaining confidentiality in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. (The ERP does not have to report cases of COVID-19 to the Region of Halton, as all confirmed cases of COVID-19 are reported to Public Health by health care providers and Director of Communication laboratories. Public Health follows up with all confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 to provide guidance and identify close contacts).

Director of Communication should work with local health officials to develop a reporting system (e.g., letter) to notify close contacts (logs and/or contract tracing information) of cases of COVID19.

The Provincial and Territorial Health agencies and Provincial and Territorial their Contact Tracing procedures will be responsible Health agencies for advising those who have had close contact with a ERP Lead person diagnosed with COVID-19 and determine whether someone should stay home and self monitor for symptoms. Members of the Club/Academy should continue to self-monitor for symptoms.

The ERP Lead must notify the Provincial or Territorial ERP Lead Association of any cases of COVID-19. A weekly Coaches reporting system should be instituted for ERP Lead to advise the Provincial or Territorial Association of any cases of COVID 19, suspected cases, and where athletes or staff have been refused admittance to any training session. Even if there are no suspected cases, a ‘nil’ report should be required.

4. Post-pandemic Phase Responsibility

Action and Communications

A. Confirm Provincial Health Officer has ERP Lead declared COVID-19 pandemic over. B. Send official written notice to your Director of Communications membership (i.e., volunteers, staff, coaches, parents, players, match officials) that the pandemic is officially over, the province’s state of emergency order has been lifted and baseball activities can resume its full operations. Note: During this phase, there may be specific sport protocols to follow from Canada Baseball/Baseball Ontario and/or the Provincial health authorities (i.e., implementation of Infection Control Policies and Procedures). C. Conduct a full review of your COVID-19 HHMBA Executive Return to Play Implementation Plan as well as your COVID-19 Emergency Response Plan. Include a list of recommendations for improvements. D. Update your organization's Emergency HHMBA Executive Response Plan for future use and have approved.