COVID-19 Safety Plan. As recommended by NSW Health, The Spit Swimming Club has registered as a COVID-safe organisation and has implemented a safety plan in accordance with government requirements. Commencement of the season on October 30 will very much depend on appropriate easing of current restrictions for outdoor gatherings which are likely to occur upon achievement of the target of 80% of the NSW population being fully vaccinated.
Full vaccination requirement. Participation in our race meets will be conditional on being fully vaccinated where possible (at time of writing children under 12 are not eligible for vaccination). This decision has been taken with a view to preventing those who aren’t fully vaccinated from putting themselves at unnecessary risk.
How we’ll be affected. In many respects we’ll be able to race much as we did before but there are some important safety procedures we’ll be adopting, many of which you are well used to since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year. It must be stressed that if you are feeling unwell and are particularly suffering from cold or flu-like symptoms please do not attend. For those attending we’d ask that you and those for whom you are responsible observe the following requirements.
Physical Distancing. We should all be well aware of the current physical distancing requirements by now but just to re-iterate – keep 1.5m from the nearest person at ALL times. Parents are responsible for ensuring their children observe these measures, particularly in relation to our older members. A maximum of 18 persons will be permitted in the clubhouse at any time but we would ask that members refrain from using it where possible. Those wishing to purchase merchandise will be advised to transfer funds to the club bank account electronically.
Hygiene and Cleaning. We’ll be providing hand sanitiser, alcohol wipes and gloves as part of our COVID kit which will be available poolside every Saturday. Please sanitise your hands regularly after coming in to contact with ladders and other equipment others may have touched. For example, if timekeepers need to race and swap their watches, please wipe down first with an alcoholic wipe. Following meets, equipment will be cleaned in accordance with a COVID cleaning checklist. The clubhouse toilets and showers are off-limits until further notice. Please use the council facilities next door or shower when you get home.
Record keeping. To conform with NSW contact tracing requirements, we are responsible for obtaining contact details of all race participants and spectators. It is now mandatory that all attendees at race meets are required to register via the available QR code. Please download the Service NSW app if you haven’t already as we’re using the COVID Safe Check-in feature provided by the government.
No social gatherings. Until further notice, we’ll be unable to gather in a large group outside the clubhouse following race meetings.
Further COVID-19 information
For information on NSW rules pertaining to sports and recreation please visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/what-you-can-and-cant-do-under-rules#sport-and-recreation.
For information on latest COVID-19 case locations and alerts in NSW please visit https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/covid-19/Pages/case-locations-and-alerts.aspx
For the latest information on public health orders relating to gathering and movement please visit https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/information/covid19-legislation/gathering-and-movement
For information on how you can slow the spread of COVID-19 through physical distancing, wearing of face masks and use of good hygiene practices please visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/social-distancing#slowing-the-spread-of-covid-19-in-nsw.