Mornington Peninsula Hockey Club have been keeping abreast of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and monitoring information as it comes to hand from the relevant authorities including and not limited to; Hockey Australia, Hockey Victoria and Monash University.
Hockey Australia and Hockey Victoria respectively have each released statements regarding COVID-19 on Thursday 12 March 2020. The advice is to continue with planned hockey activities but increase hygiene measures and implement self-exclusion if exhibiting flu-like symptoms. Please be aware this situation may change and we need to ensure we stay up to date with the latest information being provided by Federal & State Governments.
At this stage, it is everyone’s personal choice as to whether they participate or not as we have not been cancelled by either HV or Monash. Members will be notified if this situation changes.
If any member is experiencing flu-like symptoms they should refrain from playing, training and spectating at the first sign of the symptoms and seek medical advice. Please let your coach and/or section coordinator know if you cannot train.
Symptoms of COVID-19 can include:
* Fever
* Breathing difficulties such as breathlessness
* Cough
* Sore throat
* Fatigue or tiredness
Hockey Australia recommends all members (players, team staff, spectators) of hockey clubs, associations and leagues implement (at a minimum) the below set of actions for upcoming training sessions and matches:
- Replace handshaking at the start and conclusion of games with (for example) simply tapping sticks on the ground or a thumbs up.
- Use labelled water bottles. These must be strictly single person use. Avoid use of communal water bottles.
- Take care with food handling at games; for example, oranges or lollies at half-time or full-time. Use tongs to serve or reconsider shared food.
- Mouth-guards should be washed after each game, followed by cleaning of hands.
- Continue to cover nose and mouth with tissue or flexed elbow when coughing or sneezing.
- Keep 1.5m distance from anyone that is coughing or sneezing.
- Use alcohol-based hand wash available at the canteen counter, dugouts, and seat stands outside the change room.
- All players and officials should wash their hands with soap and water and dry with paper towel prior to and after games.
- Gloves should be worn when attending to players with injuries – especially against blood exposure but also to prevent contact with mouth-guards.
- Any member with flu-like symptoms should self-exclude from playing, training and spectating at the first sign of the symptoms and seek medical advice.
With the spread of COVID-19 likely to continue to impact for many weeks, please continue to be informed through the media and the Department of Health website. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/victorian-public-coronavirus-disease-covid-19
Some athletes may feel anxious about the impact of the virus and Dr Michael Carr-Gregg has prepared advice to guide parents in talking about this issue: https://schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-coronavirus
As the situation in regards of cases of Coronavirus is evolving rapidly please use the available resources to keep informed of the latest updates.
