COVID-19 Information Forum for Sport and Recreation Organisations

Communities, Sport & Creation Tasmania

Note: Information provided in this document is current as of 20 January 2022, but likely to change. Organisations should check www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au for the latest information.

Forum presentation slides available HERE

Questions and Answers

COVID-19 Safety Planning

1. Does CSR intend to produce a simplified Safety Plan template which reflects that many sporting clubs do not have paid staff and may not have premises?

• Not at this stage. However, we have prepared a simple step by step guide to developing a Plan which is available of the COVID-19 page on the CSR website.
• Using the WorkSafe COVID-19 Safety Plan template and resources will ensure sport and recreation organisations have plans which are consistent with Tasmanian Public Health Directions and legal requirements.
• Our team is available to assist and advise organisations with COVID-19 Safety planning. You can contact us at sportrec@communities.tas.gov.au or on 1800 252 476.

2. What is the current Department of Education advice around precautions in the primary school environment?

• Decisions on precautions in schools are still subject to National Cabinet discussions.
• The Premier and Education Minister are expected to announce the operational plan for schools tomorrow (Friday 21 January)
• This will extend on measures already put in place by the Department of Education and schools including:
  • All DoE staff, contractors and volunteers are to be fully vaccinated. Part of the risk analysis behind this include duty of care to children - adults being vaccinated is the best way to protect unvaccinated children
  • Masks will need to be worn by all staff and students 12+ when indoors (not including 12 year olds in primary school) – in line with existing policy
  • Stay home if unwell and get tested if symptomatic message (in line with community messaging)
  • Personal hygiene especially hand washing is very important
  • Physical distancing of 1.5 metres where practicable
  • Application of density limits as advised by Public Health for application on change rooms etc
  • Encouraging outdoor learning/activities

3. Are there or are there likely to be any restrictions on bus travel to regional areas?

• There are not currently any restrictions on travel within Tasmania, including to regional areas.
• It is impossible to know if lockdowns or travel restrictions will be imposed in the future, but currently this seems unlikely.

4. Are Outbreak Response Plans required for sport and recreation organisations and clubs?

• If your workplace or setting is small and not high-risk, it may be sufficient to document your planned case and outbreak activities in your COVID-19 Safety Plan.
• This will be the case for most sport and recreation organisations, but it is worth making sure that clubs and associations have a COVID-29 Safety Plan which includes clear guidance on how to respond to a positive case or outbreak.
• High risk settings include residential aged care, healthcare and residential care facilities, and prisons and detention centres.

Vaccination

5. Is the Tasmanian Government going to mandate vaccination for sport and recreation attendees, workers or athletes/participants?

• We currently don’t expect the Tasmanian Government to mandate vaccination in sport and recreation setting.
• Sport and recreation facilities where health and medical services or treatments are provided on a regular basis (weekly or more frequently) are considered ‘health and medical facilities’ and required to ensure all persons they employ or engage are vaccinated.

6. Can sport and recreation organisations chose to make vaccination mandatory?

• Unless mandated by Public Health, it is up to individual organisations and businesses to decide if they will introduce requirements for COVID-19 vaccination.
• However, there are some complex considerations and legal issues to consider. We recommend organisations:

• Only require vaccination in the context of a COVID-19 Risk Assessment and the legal obligations underpinning these assessments;
• Seek advice legal advice in relation to potential workplace relations, discrimination and privacy issues that may apply; and
• Ensure any vaccination requirements are documented in COVID-19 Safety Plans.

• Issues related to mandating vaccination may include:
  • The workplace rights of employees and volunteers under the Fair Work Act.
  • Your organisation’s Work, Health and Safety (WHS) responsibilities.
  • Whether requiring vaccination may be considered unlawful discrimination in your circumstance.
  • Privacy and information security - including whether collecting vaccination status information will comply with the Australian Privacy Principle (APP)3.

7. Are any sport and recreation organisations making vaccination mandatory?

• Yes, some sports such as Bowls Tasmania have introduced a no jab, no play rule for State team members and certain other levels of competition and urged member associations and clubs to do the same.

8. Are organisations that require a person to be vaccinated before they can participate in sports events discriminating against that person based on their health information?

• Your organisation should consider the advice provided at question 6.
• For information on discrimination provisions see:
  • COVID-19 vaccinations and federal discrimination law | Australian Human Rights Commission
  • COVID-19 vaccinations and Tasmanian discrimination law | Equal Opportunity Tasmania

9. How can organisations check or monitor people’s vaccination status?

• Organisations can check a person’s vaccination status by viewing their Check in Tas App, an Immunisation History Statement from the Australian Immunisation Register or a COVID-19 certificate (paper or digital).
• To be considered fully vaccinated, a person should have had 2 doses of a recognised vaccinate, and at least 14 days have passed since the second dose.
• Evidence of an exemption for medical reasons may be provided through an Immunisation History Statement and COVID-19 Digital Certificate, which can also be uploaded to the Check in Tas App.
• If you want customers and visitors to be vaccinated and show proof of this, you should seek legal advice before you take any action as there may be privacy and discrimination considerations that apply (see Question 6).

10. How to deal with anti-vaccination advocates?

• For licenced venues - The onus is on individuals to ensure that they do not enter a relevant licenced venue while not fully vaccinated. There is no requirement for businesses or event organisers to check the vaccination status of patrons or staff.
• Organisations or event organisers can choose to check vaccination status and refuse entry as part of their own workplace risk management.

11. Why are sport and recreation venues (including bars) exempt from the mandatory vaccination requirements imposed on other pubs, bars and nightclubs?

• The requirements for mandatory vaccination in licenced venues cover pubs, nightclubs, bars and events such as music festivals where there are commonly large numbers of people drinking alcohol while standing, mingling in a crowd and/or dancing.
• Other venues and private functions are not generally considered to have as high a risk or similarly large numbers of attendees.
• Events open to the public at licenced venues – including at sport and recreation clubs - may have vaccinated entry applied by Public Health as a condition under the Events Framework.

12. Is this exemption likely to be removed?

• We do not expect this exemption will be removed.

Masks

13. What should you do if a person refuses to wear a facemask?

• Wearing a face mask is an individual’s responsibility. Unless they have an exemption or are under 12 years old, individuals must carry a face mask at all times and ensure they wear it in all indoor public spaces.
• There is no obligation under a public health direction for organisations to refuse entry to customers or others who are not wearing facemasks, but organisations can choose to refuse entry as part of their own workplace risk management.
• If an individual refuses to wear a mask you may also choose to report your concerns using this Tasmania Police web form.
• There are certain exceptions to wearing a face mask, including for certified medical reasons. Reasons for not wearing a face mask are not always obvious, so it is important to be respectful of others.
• There also some permitted reasons to remove a mask – including while undertaking intense physical exercise.

14. Are combat sports likely to have harsher restrictions place on them as opposed to other sports held indoors/outdoors? e.g. masks worn at all times even when cornering in ring.

• There are no specific public health measures which only apply to combat or contact sports.
• However, there are different restrictions in place for indoor and outdoor settings.
• Events, including sporting events, may also have additional restrictions applied by Public Health under the Events Framework.

15. What age group is required to wear masks?

• Masks must be worn by all people 12 years and older, unless they have an exemption.

Tests

16. Is there any possibility of Sporting Organisations getting hold of/being allocated bulk Rapid Antigen Tests (including for participation in interstate events)?

• Currently there are no Government coordinated RATs available for supply to the sport and recreation sector.
• The commercial supply of RATs is expected to increase in the next 8-10 days, so organisations who wish to purchase their own small supply as part of their COVID safety planning should soon be able to do so.
• COVID-19 tests are no longer required for vaccinated travellers from high-risk areas entering Tasmania.
• Rapid antigen tests (RAT) are available for free for anyone in Tasmania who is symptomatic, a close contact of a confirmed case or have been directed by Public Health to take one.

Events

17. Is it necessary to submit separate COVID-19 Safety plans for individual events, or can you submit one plan for multiple events?

• It is possible to submit one Event COVID-19 Safety Checklist or Plan for related or similar events held at the same venue. For example, a basketball competition with weekly matches at the same venue could submit one checklist for multiple matches.
• Events at different venues will have different capacity (floor size), facilities, entry/exit points etc and therefore require separate Plans.
• Events organisers are now only required to submit an easy online registration and checklist for most events with up to 2000 attendees.
• For more information and the register see the Business Tasmania website.

18. Are capacity numbers at events or facilities such as gyms likely to be capped or reduced, or will current restrictions stay the same?

• The COVID-19 situation continues to change, and with it the Public Health measures required. It is impossible to foresee what restrictions will apply in the future, but almost certain that they will change over time.

COVID impacts

19. What proportion of people who test positive for COVID-19 have no symptoms?

• The percentage of people who get COVID-19 but do not have symptoms is still being researched, but estimates published in late 2021 ranged from 25% to more than 40%.

20. What proportion of people hospitalised with COVID-19 are unvaccinated?

• On the 18 January 2022, the Director of Public Health reported that only 4 the 24 people in Tasmania hospitals with COVID-19 had received a third dose booster.
• Being vaccinated and getting a booster reduces your risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including hospitalization and death.

More information contact:

• Chris Jones chris.jones@sailing.org.au 0400364053
• Communities, Sport & Recreation Tasmania sportrec@communities.tas.gov.au 1800 252 476