Athletes, parents of athletes, runners and all others connected to Wimborne AC must decide how to react to the Coronavirus outbreak. This may include deciding to self-isolate or stop participating in training and/or sporting events.
Wimborne AC will follow England Athletics advice. Detailed advice is available through this link.
www.englandathletics.org/athletics-and-running/news/coronavirus-statement/
At 11th March 2020 England Athletics advised as follows:
The health and safety of the England Athletics family, whether you’re a member, volunteer or member of staff, is our main priority, particularly with both indoor and outdoor events planned across the country.
Based on current government advice, there are currently no plans to cancel, postpone or otherwise change any of the national, regional or local competition and events England Athletics delivers, but several international events have been postponed.
However, we are aware that the coronavirus outbreak is a very fluid and rapidly changing situation. We are in regular contact with UKA, Sport England and runbritain to monitor the situation as well as continuing to follow advice from Public Health England, the World Health Organisation and both local and national government on this matter. The government is planning to publish specific advice on sporting events shortly. There’s presently, no reason people should stop doing their daily sport and physical activities as they normally would. These should be your guiding principles.
We would like to draw the attention of anyone who attends any athletics or running event or activity to the following general advice:
1. Frequently clean your hands in soap and water, or with an alcohol-based hand rub.
2. If you cough or sneeze, please cover your mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue – throw the tissue away immediately and wash your hands.
3. Avoid contact with anyone who has a fever or cough.
4.Avoid unnecessary contact with ‘high touch’ areas such as handrails, lift buttons, door handles, surfaces, etc.
5. If you experience difficulty breathing, have a high temperature or cough, please stay at home and contact a medical advisor by phone.
6. Athletes and runners are entitled, should they wish, not to shake hands or have any other form of physical contact with their opponents or officials.
EA also advise, if you are considering attending an athletics or running event in any capacity and have recently returned to the UK from overseas, particularly the affected parts of the world, we would like to draw your attention to UK Government advice.
Until further notice or guidance to the contrary, Wimborne AC will continue with planned training sessions. However, we would ask that athletes be particularly aware of hand washing, etc. following the use of throwing equipment and similar.
There is uncertainty around early season league “track and field” fixtures and road races are also likely to be subject to disruption. We will attempt to update our website as the situation develops and/or convey relevant information by email or social media.
