Guide to acceptable Orienteering Activities during Government Alert Levels

PDF: ONZ Covid-19 Alert Level Guidelines for Clubs – April 21 2020 (PDF 218KB)

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Level 2 Restriction Club Event Guidelines

Version: 21/04/2020

PDF: ONZ Coronavirus Level 2 Restiction Club Event Guidelines 21042020 (PDF 230KB)

These Level 2 Restriction guidelines super-cede all previous versions of COVID-19 ONZ event guidelines.

These guidelines have been developed based on the advice issued by Ministry of Health and government, and also based on experience applying the previous guidelines in the earlier level 2 lockdown period. The guidelines will be reviewed and where necessary updated as more information comes to light regarding Level 2 lockdown restrictions.

As previously stated, our goal is that no infections should happen whilst people participate in orienteering. We are sure all orienteering clubs will share this goal to keep all people safe in the sport.

Whilst the level 2 restrictions are in place, clubs will be able to resume some orienteering events, however they must be compliant with these restrictions and guidelines. Clubs should modify their calendar for the period the level 2 restrictions are in place and either:

• Design their events so that they are fully compliant with the guidelines, or
• Where events cannot be run safely and in line with the guidelines, to cancel or postpone these events

If clubs are unclear on how they do this or have concerns with what we are asking, they should contact ONZ for further guidance.

CLUB EVENT GUIDELINES

Guidelines on Attendance to Events

Clubs need to ensure people are advised of the following restrictions on who may attend any event. This should ideally be communicated prior to any event (eg website, marketing or promotion), as well as at each event.

People should NOT attend any orienteering event:

• If they are unwell with a cough, fever or other respiratory symptoms.
• If they have been in close contact with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 until they have completed the prescribed quarantine period, even if they are completely symptom free.
• If they have returned from any overseas country until they have completed the self-quarantine period for 14 days, even if they are symptom free
• If they are undergoing COVID-19 testing, until they have received negative results and are symptom free
• If they have been advised to stay at home by a health professional.

We also advise competitors who fit within the higher at risk groups such as elderly or immunocompromised individuals to take particular care and/or make decisions on attendance with due consideration to the risks associated with COVID-19.

Anyone that presents themselves unwell and/or with any of the symptoms above, should be directed to leave the event and contact a health provider by phone.

Risk Management During Event

Event organisers should look at opportunities to reduce the risk to orienteers, officials and volunteers through taking sensible precautions and implement practices which reduce the chance of infection and which support social distancing. These include:

• Removing any bottlenecks or areas where congregating can occur – this means no registration, no event centre, no mass starts.
• We recommend not providing toilet facilities at events.
• Not using clippers or other touchpoints such as ipads etc. If SI cards are used, these must be disinfected before and after use.
• Not providing water on course or at start or finish for competitors. Competitors should bring their own water.
• Asking competitors to bring their own hand sanitisers.
• Providing hand washing or sanitising facilities at key locations including, start and finish areas.
• Asking all that attend to follow good hygiene practices and maintain physical space between each other.
• Providing refunds to those that withdraw for health reasons.
• Collect contact information from each competitor for safety and contact tracing purposes.
• Reduce the opportunity for people to congregate including having no results areas (make available online), and no presentations at events.
• Maps should be kept by competitors following finish at all events.
• Ensure any hard surfaces such as tables etc are regularly disinfected and wiped clean.
• Where possible encourage people to enter and pay online, rather than manually handle cash. This could be in the form of giving entrants banking information to allow them to pay online before or after the event.
• Arranging starts and finishes to allow >1m distance between people, and/or staggered starts.

There may be other actions which clubs choose to take not listed here which could enhance how events can run under the current restrictions. This may even include using new approaches to events and innovations such as the MapRun app, which allows events to be organised and run with no contact between competitors and organisers

Additionally, whilst the Government imposed limit of maximum numbers of people at external gatherings is currently set at 500 people (including organising personnel), we strongly urge clubs in larger centres to consider limiting numbers further than that, particularly if there are risks associated with managing larger groups of competitors which threaten the social distancing requirements before, during or after competition. Clubs may choose to set a number limit and impose these via pre entry methods, in order to control numbers accordingly.

These guidelines will get reviewed and updated as things progress, so please be prepared for changes in due course. They will get posted on the website as well as sent directly to clubs.

PDF: ONZ Coronavirus Level 2 Restiction Club Event Guidelines 21042020 (PDF 230KB)