Castlelyons GAA - Return to Play Monday 7.6.21 Fixtures & Guidelines.

NHSC Guidelines for Return of Spectators from 7^th June 2021

These Guidelines were prepared Courtesy of Mr Shay Bannon, Chairman, National Health & Safety Committee/GAA Covid-19 Advisory Group and his Committees for the Association and circulated to all Clubs.

As we all know that Covid is not gone away and is about in many places to it is imperative that we honour these Guidelines in the observance rather than the breach.   So please read the attached carefully.

Enjoy the Games, stay safe and have a great season.

Kieran McGann

Castlelyons GAA PRO

Section 1             Staff, Volunteers, Players, Officials and Contractors

 Key Control Measures

Always refer to Government Public Health Advice and Guidance in relation to the application of measures in controlling the risk of Covid-19. Consider the key measures below in relation to all elements of event planning and implementation:

• Social Distancing
• Hand Sanitising
• Face Coverings
• Coughing Etiquette
• Cleaning and Disinfection
• Communications, including Signage.
• Contact Tracing

For further information on protecting yourself from Covid-19 please visit the HSE website (here) or in the 6 counties visit the NI Direct website (here)

Covid-19 Officer

• Ground Management/Event Organisers should designate a Covid-19 Officer for their ground/event.
• The Covid-19 officer will be responsible for implementing all Covid-19 measures and regulations and will liaise directly with all key stakeholders involved.

Event Management Plan

• Most elements of the existing Event Management Plan will remain the same and the focus should be on adding Covid-19 specific measures. I
• It is important that the updated plan is shared with all key internal and external stakeholders and that Ground Management/Event Organisers engage where necessary with these key stakeholders, e.g. the Local Authority, Health Service, and An Garda Síochána/PSNI ahead of planned fixtures.

Accreditation

• Only pre-accredited individuals involved in the participation, running, delivery, and broadcasting (if relevant) of the event can be permitted into the ground and measures must be in place to ensure that non-essential personnel do not gain access to the controlled areas of the ground.
• Contact details of all accredited individuals, including a contact telephone number, must be retained by Ground Management/Event Organisers to enable contact tracing.

Key Personnel Include:

• Players, Backroom Staff and Match Officials
• Ground Management, Event Organisers and Administration Staff
• Medical Staff and Anti-Doping (if relevant)
• Press, Media and Broadcasters
• Stewards, Security and AGS
• Other Contractors such as Cleaners, Facilities and Catering

Staff Health Status Questionnaire and Induction

• All persons will be expected to self-declare that they have not, within the past 14 days, been in contact with anyone with suspected or confirmed Covid-19, and that they are not displaying any symptoms of Covid-19. All staff, volunteers and contractors must complete an online pre-match registration training and health self-declaration form. Resources available (here)

Face Coverings and Sanitation

• It is imperative that all staff, volunteers, and contractors wear face coverings in all areas of the ground with exceptions only for players and officials as per GAA Covid-19 Advisory Group Guidance.
• Ground management must make available enough hand wash basins or hand sanitiser units for staff and contractors in all relevant areas.
  
• Signage
• Clear and adequate signage essential to direct staff, match officials and teams to where they need to go. In areas where queues are expected such as entrances to the ground and accreditation points, floors should be marked with tape to show safe waiting distances in line with the government guidelines.
• Any one-way systems should be clearly marked.

Designated Areas 

• Designated seating or areas should be allocated for substitutes, backroom staff and relevant accredited staff and attendees.
• Designated areas should be clearly marked and adhere to current 2m social distance guidelines.

Dressing Rooms

• For club games, dressing rooms must remain closed.
• Players should arrive ready to warm-up and play.
• Leave the ground once the relevant game is over.

Warm Up Area

• Warm-ups and cool downs must take place outdoors.
• Social-distancing measures - entering and exiting the pitch.
• Social Distancing during half-time and after the match.

Media

All relevant media personnel must have an up-to-date site-specific Covid-19 Risk Assessment before each event.

Travel and Parking

• Adequate bus and car parking should be provided for all key stakeholders.
• Parking should be as close to the ground as possible.
• Passes for only designated personnel are accommodated.
• Priority should be given to teams, backroom staff, match officials.
• Passes for emergency vehicles and those with special needs.

Section 2             Spectators

Communication

• Clear and concise information be made available to spectators before they consider attending any games.
• This should involve the use of all available means of communication, from national to local level including official GAA, Camogie and LGFA websites, social media platforms, information on tickets and signage outside grounds. Important areas to address include:
• Spectators should be aware that in attending GAA, Camogie and LGFA games not all the risks posed from Covid-19 can be eliminated but that essential control measures have been put in place to reduce risks for spectators.
• Spectators must not attend games if they display any symptoms of Covid-19 and instead should phone their GP and follow public health advice.
• Individuals that are considered high risk or are in close contact with others who are considered high risk should not attend games (click here)
• Individuals must be informed that much of the responsibility for managing Covid-19 risk remains with themselves, particularly in relation to social distancing, the wearing of face coverings and sanitation
• All spectators should be encouraged to bring their own hand sanitiser.
• The use of face coverings is required for all patrons over the age of 13 (including those who have been vaccinated)
• Spectators must not enter the field of play at any time, whether pre-match, at half-time and other intervals or after the final whistle or at end-of-match presentations
• Spectators should be advised to keep their own record of contacts at a match for potential tracing purposes.
• All spectators should be encouraged to download the HSE tracing app (click here). The link for the 6 counties is (here)

Capacity

• 100 spectators will be permitted to attend GAA games.
• This number is in addition to players, team personnel, stewards, or media attendees.
• Increase in Spectator is subject to the public health situation.
• The number in attendance at grounds should be recorded by the Ground Management/Event Organisers hosting the match.
• A designated person should be appointed to carry out this task.
• Every ground should be risk assessed to ensure that it can host the permitted number of spectators, with social distancing measures fully respected.
• Where control measures do not adequately mitigate the risks involved in running two or more games consecutively consideration should be given to operating single-header fixtures only in some grounds.

Social Distancing

• It is imperative that all spectators (including those who have been vaccinated) adhere to social distancing guidelines.
• When travelling to games, arriving at the ground.
• In the seated areas, on the concourses, using toilets and facilities.
• When leaving the ground and travelling home.

The current public health guidance advises that a social distance of 2m be maintained between people. Future government guidance may change, and the GAA’s assessment methods may change as a result.

Where small groups of people are attending games together members of these groups should be from the same household.

Insofar as possible, individuals and small groups should remain in the same area for the duration of the game, remain 2m apart from others and avoid intermingling with other individuals or groups.

Signage should be in place to remind spectators to practice and maintain social distancing, particularly at ‘pinch points’ identified in the risk assessment.

Consideration should be given to the ingress and egress of patrons particularly when there is more than one game taking place. Where possible, separate entrance and exit points should be used to reduce crossflow of spectators and to help maintain safe distancing.

There should be adequate space at the entry point to facilitate socially distanced queueing and adequate signage, ground markings and stewarding should be in place.

It is essential that spectators do not congregate in groups in the vicinity of the grounds before, between and after games as social distancing and contact tracing measures will be compromised by such congregation and the potential risk of transmission will be higher.

Under no circumstances should spectators enter the playing area before and after games or during intervals unless part of and the activation of the emergency plan.

Celebrations involving ‘pitch invasions’ are strictly prohibited.

Contact Tracing

• All practical measures, e.g., through public announcements, signage, and stewards, should be taken to inform spectators attending matches to restrict contact with individuals and groups outside their own household once inside the ground.
• All spectators should be advised to download the contract tracing application. Ground management will be responsible for the contact-tracing records of staff, volunteers, players, and officials but are not responsible for the contact-tracing records of spectators.
• All third-party contractors and media must have their own contact-tracing measures in place as per their risk assessment and avoid any close contact with spectators, players, and other staff where possible.

Ticketing

• Games with an expected attendance of 200 or more it is recommended that entry be by pre-paid ticket only.
• Where possible grounds should operate reserved seating in line with social distancing guidelines.
• If a ground cannot operate a reserved seating policy measures must be in place to ensure there is social distancing between patrons inside the grounds.
• Key information should be available to spectators before they purchase a ticket to ensure they understand the specific Covid-19 control measures in place. There should be no re-admittance to the ground once a patron has left.

Sanitation and Toilets 

• A deep clean of the ground (including seating, toilets, staff areas, media areas etc.) should take place before and after each match day.
• Special attention should be given to high-contact surfaces such as door handles and light switches. On-going cleaning of some areas, e.g., toilets, entrances will be required, and hand-hygiene facilities should be provided throughout the ground.
• Grounds must ensure that there are adequate male and female toilet facilities available for the expected attendance.
• Toilets should be well ventilated with a robust and documented cleaning regime in place. Hand sanitiser units should be located at entry points and at other key touch-point areas.

Medical Protocols 

• Should any patron present to staff or stewards with any symptoms of Covid-19 either before entering or whilst in the ground they should be advised to go home immediately and contact their GP.
• If a patron presenting with symptoms is not in a position to go home, grounds should ensure there is a room available for that person to isolate whilst waiting on the HSE/Department of Health and Social Services to respond.

Patrons with Special Needs

• Individuals that are considered high risk or are in close contact with others who are considered high risk should not attend games (click here).
• Consideration should be given to suitable entry and exit points for wheelchair users.

 Catering 

• Where catering is provided, control measures must be put in place to minimise risk e.g. a queuing system, cashless options, take-away options etc. A detailed site-specific risk assessment must be carried out by the catering operator/ contractor in conjunction with Ground Management/Event Organiser.

 Match Programmes

• Match programmes should be made available in online format if possible. If printed versions are being sold a Covid-19 risk assessment must be carried out and appropriate control measures put in place.

Smoking Policy

It is recommended that smoking and vaping be prohibited in all areas inside the ground for all staff and spectators to avoid congregation in semi covered areas and for public health reasons.

Outside the Ground

To ensure that access to the ground is reserved for essential personnel and ticketed spectators only. It is essential that the Garda Síochána be informed of all match-day arrangements.

Additional stewarding/security will be required to ensure that only designated stakeholders and ticket holders are permitted access to the ground.

It is imperative that all available means of communication be utilised by the event organisers to ensure that non-essential personnel including fans without tickets do not congregate in the vicinity of the ground before, during or after the match.

Useful Links

https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/e5175-resilience-and-recovery-2020-2021-plan-for-living-with-covid-19/

https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/

https://learning.gaa.ie/covid19

https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/covid-19-coronavirus (NI)

https://sgsa.org.uk/covid/

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-regulations-guidance-work-business-hospitality-tourism-and-sport