Update from Bowls Queensland re COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
Bowls Queensland’s thoughts are with our clubs, staff and members since the Australian Government moved to enforce the closure of registered and licenced clubs last Monday.
The message from the Prime Minister on Tuesday night included new restrictions to be enforced:
All social-based sporting activities are to cease from midnight Tuesday night.
For community and recreation centres, they may remain open only for the purpose of hosting essential voluntary or public services, such as food banks or homeless services.
source: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/update-coronavirus-measures-24-March-2020
New recommendation:
Australian Health Protection Principals Committee (AHPPC) further recommends closing all organised sporting events, including outdoor sport and swimming pools.
Clubs QLD have advised the following:
“Clubs Queensland has been fielding many questions from bowls clubs and here is the best advice we can offer based on current information: If your greens are part of your licensed area then YES they are shut down too. No bowls. You will be in breach of your license if people are on the green.”
In relation to licenced club matters, Clubs QLD are available to assist clubs: https://www.clubsqld.com.au/
Clubs QLD Covid-19 Information Hub: http://www.clubsqld.com.au/Web/member_resources/covid-19.aspx
Clubs QLD are also running regular live updates with information via their Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/ClubsQueensland/
Please find attached a summary of the known COVID-19 related support that is available to Clubs, Associations and bowlers as of yesterday (thank you to Bowls Australia).
The list of measures has been compiled directly from advice on Government websites with pointers from a couple of other reliable sources.
Please note that this information is accurate as of yesterday. If it happens that further rounds of support are announced, then we will look to provide an updated version of this document following any series of announcements.
Coronavirus information and support for business
Find financial assistance, eligibility and timing for the new government support for Australian businesses.https://www.business.gov.au/Risk-management/Emergency-management/Coronavirus-information-and-support-for-business
QLD Government support for Businesses: https://www.qld.gov.au/about/industry-recovery/business-and-industry-support
Bowls Queensland is continually monitoring the status of COVID-19 and will act in accordance with the guidelines from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Australian Federal Government and the Queensland Government.
Keep up to date with developments via the following links:
- QLD Health
- QLD Health 2
- Australian Government Department of Health
- Smart Traveller DFAT
- World Health Organisation (WHO)
- Clubs QLD Covid-19 Information Hub
Good hygiene
Everyone must practise good personal hygiene to protect against infection and prevent the virus from spreading.
Good hygiene includes:
- covering your coughs and sneezes with your elbow or a tissue
- disposing of tissues properly
- washing your hands often with soap and water, including before and after eating and after going to the toilet
- using alcohol-based hand sanitisers
- cleaning and disinfecting surfaces
- if you are sick, avoiding contact with others and staying more than 1.5 metres away from people
- cleaning and sanitising frequently used objects such as mobiles, keys and wallets
Social distancing
One way to slow the spread of viruses is social distancing. There are practical things you can do, to protect those more susceptible to the virus.
Households
- Practice good hand and cough/sneeze hygiene
- Avoid handshaking and other physical greetings
- Regularly clean shared high-touch surfaces, such as tables, kitchen benches and doorknobs
- Increase the amount of fresh air by opening windows or adjusting air conditioning
- Buy more goods and services online so you limit visits to the shop
- Consider what travel and outings are necessary, both individual and family, and go to open places such as parks
Social distancing in the workplace
- To reduce the spread of germs in the workplace:
- Stay at home if you are sick
- Consider if large gatherings can be rescheduled, staggered or cancelled
- Stop handshaking and other physical greetings
- Hold meetings via video conferencing or phone call
- Reconsider non-essential business travel
- Defer large face-to-face meetings
- Hold essential meetings outside in the open air if possible
- Promote good hand and cough/sneeze hygiene and provide hand sanitisers for all staff and workers
- Take lunch outside rather than in the lunch room
- Clean and disinfect shared high-touch surfaces regularly
- Consider opening windows and adjusting air conditioning for more fresh air
- Limit food handling and shared food in the workplace
- Promote strictest hygiene among food preparation (canteen) staff and their close contacts
Please be aware that all the information provided above is current of this morning but is changing every day. Bowls QLD encourages everyone to continually monitor advice from Federal and State Governments.
