COVID Marshals

The online training for COVID Marshals has been released and can now be accessed.

This training module covers the fundamentals of infection prevention and control for COVID-19 including:

• Understand the COVID-19 virus and your role as COVID Marshal
• Learn how the COVID-19 virus spreads and ways to assist in its prevention
• Understand how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19 infection, including through your role as a COVID Marshal
• Recognise COVID-19 symptoms
• Learn about the importance of social distancing and managing density
• Learn helpful tips on cleaning and assist in prevention in the workplace
• Understand where you can get more information

As of Friday 21 August 2020 a COVID Marshal will be required to supervise a prescribed operation, which includes but is not limited to:

• The onsite purchase and consumption of food or beverage (whether occurring in an indoor or outdoor area)
• Social and sporting clubs
• Operations at gymnasiums and fitness centres
• Swimming pools used by the public

If you fall into any of the above categories you must have a COVID Marshal if:

• less than 200 people are present - then you must have a nominated COVID Marshal (this can be one of your regular staff or volunteers to perform the role as well as their usual duties).
• more than 200 people are reasonably expected to be present at or participating - then you must have a dedicated COVID Marshal (this person must not have any other duties in respect of the prescribed operation).

A COVID Marshal must:

• be easily identifiable (e.g. brightly coloured garments, eye-catching lanyards or badges with ‘COVID MARSHAL’ displayed)
• be present and on duty while the activity is operating
• take reasonable action to ensure compliance of COVID-Safe or COVID Management Plans

For further information refer to the COVID Marshals Frequently Asked Questions and the Emergency Management (Public Activities No 7)(COVID-19) Direction 2020 to learn more about the new COVID Marshal role and what they are required to do.

COVID-Safe Plans

• All businesses and defined public activities must have a COVID-Safe Plan before they can commence their activity.
• When changes to the COVID-Safe Plan parameters are made by the authorities, an updated version will be emailed to those who had previously submitted one.
• COVID-Safe Plans must be kept available for inspection by authorised officers
• If your organisation or activity includes the onsite purchase and consumption of food and beverages, your COVID-Safe Plan must also include the activity ‘Hospitality’ and its obligations and recommendations. This requirement does not apply to the onsite purchase and consumption of:
  • snack or hand-held foods or non-alcoholic beverages by people attending sport (incl. training), fitness or recreation activities.
  • alcoholic beverages by spectators at sports event, provided alcoholic beverages are consumed while seated.

COVID Management Plans

• A COVID Management Plan, approved by SA Health, will be required for:
  • a defined public activity where more than 1000 people are reasonably expected to be present at or participating in the activity
  • the onsite purchase and consumption of food or beverages at a place where the total number of persons present at the place for the purpose of the purchase and consumption of food or beverages is reasonably expected to exceed 1000 people
  • the operation of a nightclub
  • the operation of relevant licensed premises
• In some cases, your events/business/activity may require both a COVID Management Plan and a COVID-Safe Plan for each vendor.
• For information on the process including a template, refer to the COVID Management Plan.
• If you require assistance or have any queries while completing your COVID Management Plan, you can contact SA Health at public.health@sa.gov.au or on 8226 7100.

Minimising the Spread of Infection

• Everyone has a role to play to help stop the spread of infection, we must not be complacent.
• The COVID-19 infection control guidelines for community sport outlines ways you can help.
• Physical distancing measures of 1.5 metres between people whenever possible, must still be followed.
• Room/venue limits are subject to the 1 person per 2 square meters rule, the size of the venue will determine capacity.

Indoor and Outdoor Sport and Fitness Classes

• Indoor and outdoor contact sport competitions and indoor fitness classes are all permitted.

Contact Tracing Requirements

• Contact tracing records must be kept:
  • For indoor fitness classes.
  • When a COVID Management Plan is required (see COVID Management Plan above).

Sport Change Rooms

• Communal changing rooms, shower facilities and sauna or spa facilities and toilets are now permitted to be used.
• A fact sheet is available on Guidance for Sport Change Rooms with information related to:
  • People and numbers
  • The get in, get out philosophy
  • Cleaning and disinfection
  • Equipment
  • Massage and rubdowns
  • Hygiene
  • Food and beverages

Food and Beverage

• Sporting and social clubs are defined public activities under the Directions.
• Purchase and consumption of food or beverages (including alcohol) in clubrooms/clubhouses and at sporting venues is permitted if there are no communal food or beverage service areas used (i.e. buffets, salad bars, water/beverage dispensers).
• Canteens can be open for the purchase and consumption of snack or hand-held food and non-alcoholic beverages by people while attending sport (including sports training), fitness or recreation activities.
• Alcoholic beverages may be consumed by spectators at sporting events at local clubs if the spectator remains seated.
• Food and beverages (including alcohol) must be consumed by patrons while seated at tables that are physically separate from any bar or are where orders are taken.
• Food and beverages at a recreational facility (e.g. mini-golf, pool hall, tenpin bowling, high ropes course, etc.) must be consumed at an area separate from a bar/where orders are taken and within the group that are attending the facility.

BBQs / Sausage Sizzles / Shared Food

• BBQs / sausage sizzles are now classified as “take away food” rather than communal food, and can now be held at sporting venues and community clubs.
• Certain measures must be taken to reduce the risk of infection, including:
  • People being served must practice physical distancing when lining up to order and practice good hygiene.
  • No self-service of condiments etc. (person serving the food must apply condiments).
  • Cooked food must be protected from contamination and stored away from the area where orders are placed.
  • Shared food (i.e. oranges, lollies and recovery food) is still considered communal food and is not permitted.
  • Further information can be found here: FAQs: Communal and Shared Food

Public Activities Directions and FAQs

• The latest versions can be found here:

https://www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/emergency-declarations/public-activities

Be COVID-Safe

• For more information visit: www.covid-19.sa.gov.au/recovery

RETURN TO SPORT & RECREATION WITH INCLUSIVE SPORT SA

As we all work to bring sport back to our playing fields and courts, Inclusive Sport SA, in partnership with the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing have developed the 'Return to Sport Accessible Communication' material to promote health literacy and positive hygiene practices and assist sport deliverers in administering a smooth and safe return to sport.

These resources are now available to download on the Inclusive Sport SA website.

Inclusive Sport SA Website

CONSUMER AND BUSINESS SERVICES

The following information was released by Consumer and Business Services, for associations regarding COVID-19.

Due to COVID-19 and the restrictions now in place on public gatherings, some associations may find it difficult to comply with the legislative requirement around holding Annual General Meetings.

With this in mind, the Government is granting a 6 month extension for associations to lodge periodic returns and hold Annual General Meetings.

If technology can be used, associations may wish to consider holding a 'virtual' AGM (either online, or via teleconference).

Associations should remain mindful or good governance practices – including accessibility and inclusiveness, appropriate record keeping and giving members reasonable notice of meetings – regardless of the form an AGM takes. As always, you should ensure that members are able to ask questions or raise concerns about the way a meeting is run.

In some cases, for example where members can’t access the appropriate technology, it will be appropriate to instead defer the meeting.

Subject to the above, CBS will not take action where a virtual AGM is held, but does not comply with the association’s rules due to requirements that meetings are held in person.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission have both prepared useful advice around holding Annual General Meetings remotely, that may help associations explore this option.

For more information, contact associations@sa.gov.au

While Consumer and Business Services will not take action in related to non-compliance involving actions in response to COVID-19, this doesn't protect the association against any third party claim that the action contravened the legislation.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Tens of thousands of South Australian small businesses and not-for-profits will be offered a one-off $10,000 emergency cash grant from the State Government to further support them through the coronavirus crisis. The cash grants will be available to help cover a business’ ongoing or outstanding operating costs, such as rent, power bills, supplier and raw materials costs and other fees. Applications for the grant will open shortly and be available until 1 June, 2020.

Businesses can find more information and register their interest on the Treasury SA website: https://www.treasury.sa.gov.au/Growing-South-Australia/COVID-19

The National Cabinet has announced a $130 billion ‘JobKeeper’ wage package available from 30 March - 27 September 2020.

• Around 6 million workers will receive a flat payment of $1,500 per fortnight through their employer, before tax.
• The payment will be open to eligible businesses that receive a significant financial hit caused by the coronavirus.
  • Eligible employers will be those with annual turnover of less than $1 billion who self-assess that have a reduction in revenue of 30 per cent or more, since 1 March 2020 over a minimum one-month period.
  • Employers with an annual turnover of $1 billion or more would be required to demonstrate a reduction in revenue of 50 per cent or more to be eligible.
  • Full time and part time employees, including stood down employees, would be eligible to receive the JobKeeper Payment. Where a casual employee who has been with their employer for at least the previous 12 months will also be eligible for the Payment.
  • An employee will only be eligible to receive this payment from one employer.
• The first payments will be received by eligible businesses in the first week of May and backdated to 30 March.

The Prime Minister’s $66billion stimulus may offer significant relief to some sporting organisations. These measures include:

• Not-for-profits and small businesses with a turnover less than $50million will receive a tax-free, cash payment of up to $100,000 (with a minimum payment of $20,000 for eligible companies); delivered by the ATO as a credit on business activity statements (BAS) from late April.
• The Government is offering to guarantee unsecured loans of up to $250,000 for a term of up to three years. This comes on top of the banks deferring loan repayments for six months.
• Changes to rules for creditors to instigate a bankruptcy/insolvency – they would need to have outstanding payments by a business/individual of $20,000 (up from $2,000). The company/individual will have longer to respond to the creditors' claims – increasing to 6 months (up from 21 days).

Changes have also been implemented for people who have lost more than 20% of their normal income (including casuals and sole traders):

• Access will be provided to up to $10,000 of your superannuation savings in the 20/21 financial year.
• Access to the Jobseeker Payment (formerly Newstart) will be made easier – with the waiver of the asset test and waiting period.
• The payment will be temporarily increased to $550 per week.
• Welfare recipients will receive another $750 once-off payment starting 13 July, in addition to the $750 once-off payment announced in stimulus package 1 – for payment in April.

Please consider the above points and talk to staff and coaches about what this could mean for them.