Recreational sports organizations ~ Higher Risk February 1, 2021 ‘TO: Reereational sports organization Boards FROM: Oneida County Health Department (OCHD) HEALTH ADVISORY: HIGHER RISK RECREATIONAL SPORTS ‘SUMMARY, + New York State’s Interim Guidanee For Sports And Reereation During The Covid-19 Public ‘Health Emergency categorizes sport and reereation activities as lower risk, moderate risk, and higher risk, Wrestling, football, ice hockey, basketball, contact lacrosse, martial arts, rugby, volleyball, competitive cheer and group dance, and other sports and recreation activites with similar abilities to maintain physical distance andr limit exposure to shared equipment prior to such equipment being cleaned and disinfected, are among the sports categorized as higher risk + On January 22, 2021, Governor Cuomo announced that effective February 1, 2021, participants in higher risk sports and reereation activities may partake in individual or ‘ictanoed group tesining and organized noflow-contact group taining and may partake in other types of play, including competitions and tournaments, only as permitted by their local wtments ‘© ‘The Interim Guidance For Sports And Recreation During The Covid-19 Public Health rggncy stipulates that te following factors should be eonsidered regarding higher risk sports, which may weigh against permitting such activities:+ Whether a more-transmissible variant of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19 disease) has been identified by New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) inthe area sasmissible vaviant of ‘+ Currently there have been no cases of a more- 'SARS-CoV-2 identified in Oneida County + Local mies of SARS-COV-2 transmission or rate of positivity. + Local rates of positivity and of transmission (RO) ate at acceptable levels to permit higher risk sports with restrictions and have been on a downward trend since the first week of January. Local ability to monitor and enforce compliance with requitements. ‘+ In order for OCHD to effectively monitor and enforce compliance with ‘equitements, OCHD must have the fall participation, assistance and ‘cooperation ofeach reereational sports organization which wishes to offer higher risk sports. BAC IND “The World Heath Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social ‘well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” Regarding SARS-CoV-2 and participation in sports, the American Academy of Pediatrics has indicated that re-engaging in sports activities has physical and psychological health benefits. Participating in sports allows ‘youth to improve their cardiovascular health, strength, body composition, and overall fitness. Mentally, youth may experience benefits from increased socialization and from a more structured routine, Both the psychological and physical benefits support developmental growth and can have immune system benefits The State's decision to permit higher-isk sports and recreation activities does not mean that the risk inherent in higher risk sports and activities has changed. Any time people are gathered, there is ask of exposure to SARS-CoV-2, which enn lead to serious medical conditions and even death, Symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals can spread the viru. Masking, distancing, ‘and other mitigation measures reduce, but do not eliminate risk. Further, there is & significant risk of transmission to those inthe home ofan infected student-athlete.[At present, it eannot be predioted who will become severely il although older people and those ‘with underlying health conditions are at higher risk. ‘The long-term effets of SARS-CoV-2 are not known; even people with mild cases may experience long-term complications. Players, parents, spectators, coaches and referees and officials should understand that social interactions outside of an actual practice or competition (eg locker rooms, buses) are also potential places of transmission among student-athletes. Regarding clusters of SARS-CoV-2 ceases among athletes, at this time, there is insufficient data to determine whether transmission is ‘more likely to have occurred beeause ofthe nature ofa given sport or because ofthe social factors and envionment surounding the athletes and teams. Accordingly, vigilance should be stressed fr all partes in order to assure the ability to access the benefits from participation in higher risk sports. Ultimately, for youths, the decision flls on a parents{guardian to decide whether they will allow their children to participate ina given sport or activity. The effeet of SARS-CoV-2 transmission ae numerous and far reaching. Before choosing to participate in any higher risk activity, parents and recreational sports organizations must edueate themselves about the potential ramifications of participation. On January 26, 2021, the CDC published in its “Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report” (“MMWR”) a study entitled “SARS-CoV-2 ‘Transmission Associated with High School Wrestling Tournaments — Florida, December 2020- “January 2021” which sets forth the SARS-CoV-2 transmission and related consequences resulting ftom a wrestling tournament held in Florida in eatly December 2020 (sce attached acl. Ahletes who participate as members of recreational sports organization team or through the ‘use of a reereational sports organization's facilities will be permitted to participate in recreational hhigher-isk sports in Oneida County provided that their recreational sports organization prepares ‘a plan for approval by the OCHD which adheres tothe requirements set forth below. OCHD will have two objectives when reviewing and monitoring plans which provide for the safe participation in higher risk sports: first, to prevent any participants (athletes, coaches, referees, officials, trainers, spectators te) from contracting SARS-Co-2; second, tothe extent a participant contracts SARS-CoV.2, wo swiflly wad effectively crtail the opportunity for the virus tobe transmitted to others. |REMENTS FOR R RISK SPOR! )NEIDA COUNTY ‘+ Each appropriate person/entity for recreational sports organizations, must oversee the creation of a sport-specifie preparedness plan that delineates 3‘A plan adeinistator, whois responsible for communicating the plan to athletes, coaches, parens, tines, refereevoficals, ete. ‘Applan coordinator (canbe the same as the plan administrator), who will serve sa point of contact, should any cases be identified. The coordinator must facilitate and assist with ease investigation and contact elicitation and notification. ‘A éaily system to ensure that no one associated with the pratice or competition is il, including refereesoffcials and spectators, [A system for logging attendance by all individuals associated with the practice or ‘competition, including referee/ofiicials and spectators. ‘The system must capture names, phone numbers and email addresses. How practice and game times can be staggered to avoid crowding and congestion ‘when participants, refereeslfficials and spectators are arriving, playing, and leaving. If feasible, how pods ean be eeated to limit the potential for transmission inthe event lf anexposute. A pod is «group of athletes who only practice or play with members of their own pod + Pods should either practice in physically separate rooms, facilites or areas oF steps taken to ensure that pds are appropriately distanced, = Teams should avoid reassigning athletes to different pods to the maximum, extent possible ‘The smaller the pod size, the more the team can minimize potential transmission, How sharing of objects (eg. water battles, towels, snacks) will be avoided and the use ‘of dedicated personel equipment encouraged. If feasible, how practices or competitions can be held outdoors. If not feasible, how time spent indoors ean be minimized. How locker rooms and facility shower use can be avoided. How carpooling can be discouraged to the extent possible How travel by buses will conform to social distancing requirements for buses per state school transportation requirements; for reereational leagues, use of buses should also conform to NYS guidance for social distancing bus transportation requirements for schools For games requiting overnight travel, how hotel room sharing can be discouraged, to the extent possible. How congregate dining wil be minimized and when itis necessary, how NYS social distancing regulations related to dining and gatherings will be adhered to 4