Safe Return to Baseball/Softball – Covid-19 Prevention Guidelines
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Safe Return to Baseball/Softball – Covid-19 Prevention Guidelines 1 Version 27 May 2022 Safe Return to Baseball/Softball – Covid-19 Prevention Guidelines Disclaimer While the advice given in these guidelines has been developed using the best information available, it is intended purely as guidance to be used at the user’s own risk. No responsibility is accepted by WBSC or by any person, firm, corporation or organisation who or which has been in any way concerned with the furnishing of information or data, the compilation, publication or any translation, supply or sale of this Guidance for the accuracy of any information or advice given herein or for any omission here from or from any consequences whatsoever resulting directly or indirectly from compliance with or adoption of guidance contained therein even if caused by a failure to exercise reasonable care. 2 Safe Return to Baseball/Softball – Covid-19 Prevention Guidelines Table of Contents 1. Introduction ··························································································· 4 2. General Guidelines ················································································· 4 2.1 Risk Assessment ···························································································· 4 2.2 Prevention & Protection Measures ···························································· 5 2.3 Education & Communication ······································································ 6 2.4 General Recommended Standards ···························································· 7 3. Return to Competition ············································································ 8 3.1 Member Federations / Organisations ······················································· 8 3.2 Participants ·································································································· 10 3.3 Event Organisers ························································································· 11 3.4 Competition ··································································································· 15 Appendix 1 – How to Handwash Infographic ························································ 18 Appendix 2 – How to Wear a Medical Mask Infographic ····································· 19 Appendix 3 – Pre-Tournament Questionnaire/ Health Declaration Form ······· 20 3 Safe Return to Baseball/Softball – Covid-19 Prevention Guidelines 1. Introduction The principal purpose of this document is to provide a framework and general recommendations to the WBSC Baseball and Softball community, during the global COVID-19 Pandemic, for the safe return to the practice of our sports. This document has been developed in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on the organisation of sporting events and with input from the WBSC Medical Commission. It is a live document that will be periodically updated as the global situation continues to evolve. Specific prevention measures and adjusted protocols for WBSC Events will be defined and announced in conjunction with the National Authorities of each Local Organising Committee in due time. Who should read this document? Member Organisations may use this framework to establish measures and protocols for return to competition within their own jurisdiction. Such measures shall be in total compliance with WHO recommendations, government regulations and local laws, including those specific to the Covid- 19 Pandemic. Legislation changes shall be monitored and compliance adjusted accordingly when needed. 2. General Guidelines 2.1. Risk Assessment An event is considered a “Mass Gathering” if the number of people it brings together is so large that it has the potential to strain the planning and response resources of the health system in the community where it takes place. Large sporting events such as Baseball/Softball World Cups, continental and national championships qualify as Mass Gatherings. Member organisations shall assess their events following the WHO Risk Assessment and Mitigation Checklist for Mass Gatherings in the context of COVID-19. This is an operational tool that offers guidance for organisers holding meetings during the COVID-19 outbreak and that should be accompanied by the WHO COVID-19 Generic Risk Assessment Excel file available on the WHO website. It is advisable to conduct the risk assessment in cooperation with local Public Health Authorities, explaining and coordinating with them the specific baseball/softball measures to be implemented. After assessing your event, the risk versus mitigation matrix below will help you identify the risk level: 4 Safe Return to Baseball/Softball – Covid-19 Prevention Guidelines Very Prepared to Somewhat Prepared to Somewhat Unprepared Very Unprepared to Mitigate COVID-19 Mitigate COVID-19 to Mitigate COVID-19 Mitigate COVID-19 Impacts Impacts Impacts Impacts Total Risk Assessment Score (76-100) (51-75) (26-50) (0-25) 0 - Negligible Very low Very low Very low Very low 1 - Very Low Risk Very low Very low Low Low 2 - Low Risk Low Low Low Moderate 3 - Moderate Risk (low-moderate) Low Moderate Moderate Moderate 4 - Moderate Risk (high-moderate) Moderate Moderate High Very High 5 - High Risk High High Very High Very High 6 - Very High Risk Very High Very High Very High Very High **Risk Assessment shall be done in coordination with the local authorities. 2.2. Prevention and Protection Measures To establish the prevention and protection measures to be implemented in your event, the first step is to identify a Health Safety Manager, supported at least by an appropriate clinical advisor (i.e. Doctor). The list of responsibilities among others, would include: ➢ Develop baseball/softball and location specific Covid-19 Risk Assessment and Mitigation Checklist; ➢ Act as the point person to coordinate with the local health authorities, especially with the identification, isolation and if necessary transportation of ill or virus exposed participants; ➢ Oversee implementation of education, prevention, protection and treatment measures for the various groups of participants; ➢ Designate the key support staff and their roles in the education, prevention, protection and treatment measures; ➢ Document that all event participants have undergone appropriate training in personal safety and emergency mitigation measures (including those specifically listed in the WHO Risk Assessment Tool). 5 Safe Return to Baseball/Softball – Covid-19 Prevention Guidelines While developing and formulating the Health Safety Plan, general prevention and protection measures should include: ➢ Identification of the different groups of people involved in the event (i.e. athletes, coaches, officials, event staff, accompanying persons, venue personnel, etc.) and establish safety protocols for potential interactions among them; ➢ Determination of the flow of different groups of people throughout the venue to avoid excessive gatherings and unnecessary contact, as well as to identify informational displays and sanitation station locations; ➢ Establishment of specific security distance requirement for each aspect and location of the event. Consideration is to be given to WHO recommendations on social distancing. A physical distance of two (2) meters is preferable where possible for effectively decrease transmission from respiratory droplets. One (1) meter distance should be the minimum; ➢ Determination of who, when and where protection equipment, e.g. masks and gloves, shall be used; ➢ Establishment of cleaning protocols and requirements for sanitizing stations at the venues; ➢ Assurance of individual risk acceptance by participants, if necessary, by signed releases and event insurance when possible. 2.3. Education and Communication Setting an education, communication and monitoring plan is strongly recommended to ensure the prevention measures are properly understood and implemented. This shall include, at a minimum: ➢ Development of health advisories for all event participants and spectators, both in digital and printed versions; ➢ Identification of methods to communicate measures and protocols (i.e. email, social media, websites, printed displays, public announcer, etc.); ➢ Identification of key locations at each venue to post health advisories (i.e. access routes, common use spaces, etc.); ➢ Preparation and execution of proper training for all participants: event staff, volunteers, athletes, coaches, officials, etc.; ➢ Determination of a risk communication strategy for COVID-19 before the event. A potential incident during the event may draw significant media attention. It will help avoid inaccurate and unnecessary disinformation. A Media Manager and/or spokesperson should be appointed for this purpose; 6 Safe Return to Baseball/Softball – Covid-19 Prevention Guidelines ➢ Coordination with major social media sites like Twitter and Facebook, Instagram should be set up so that messaging can be coordinated with, and assisted by, those platforms. 2.4. General Recommended Standards The list of recommendations below set out the minimum standards for the organisation of Baseball/Softball/Baseball5 competitions. These guidelines will help mitigate the risk of COVID- 19 infections – they cannot eliminate it completely. Any return to competition and implementation of this guidance should be established in conjunction with the relevant national authorities. ➢ Implementation of Safe Physical Distance: o Minimum one metre, preferably two metres during and after physical activity;