Bowls Canterbury - Coronavirus Update 3: 17/03/2020

Please read previous correspondence also at the bottom of this post.

• As per previous correspondence, Bowls Canterbury are following advice from the Ministry of Health and at this stage the advice to cancel events is for attendees over 500. We don't anticipate any of our events being over that capacity however we will be taking in to consideration the demographic of our members before making any decisions.
  
  
• Bowls New Zealand have postponed (for at least 6 months) the National Intercentre which was scheduled for later in the week. As well as the North v South event. For further National and International events information please see Bowls NZ's post: https://bowlsnewzealand.co.nz/news/coronavirus-covid-19-update-16-03-20/
  
  
• The Club Executive tournament scheduled for tomorrow will go ahead unless there are any further updates from the MOH that advise otherwise
  
  
• The Bowls Canterbury board are meeting this afternoon to further discuss how this impacts our sport in the short to long term and will continue to update our community via emails and website posts.

Bowls Canterbury - Coronavirus Update 2: 16/03/2020

Bowls Canterbury has undertaken the planning below and we look forward to the bowls communities co-operation.

• Bowls Canterbury will continue to follow the advice provided by the Ministry of Health (MOH). At this stage we are able to continue with our events such as Club Executive Tournament; Under 5 events and Clubs with their own events. This may change over the next 24 hours, so please check emails and the Bowls Canterbury website for further updates.
• Bowls Canterbury has a stock of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including gloves, antiseptic handwash and handwipes – which visitors to our office/shop are able to use.
• Communications around green closures as well as the Bowls Canterbury shop and office closures, and any emergency responses will be placed on the Bowls Canterbury website and sent via email. We ask clubs to inform Bowls Canterbury if any club members are suspected of being infected.
• Bowls Canterbury is up to date with border restrictions and ensures all staff, board members and contractors are adhering to these.

• In the event of the office or shop closing, we have identified ways to continue providing a service to the Bowls community. General information will be provided on the Bowls Canterbury website should this happen.
• We have liaised with our contracted cleaner to enhance the cleaning routine of touchpoints and common spaces.
• We are working with Bowls NZ who in turn are looking for direction from Sport New Zealand around community sport and what the virus may mean for its short term delivery. This includes the National Intercentre and we expect to know by the end of the day if this will go ahead.

Further information that may be helpful for your club to consider:

• Educate your members via emails, newsletters and posters around your club and include "good" hygiene practices.
• Do not shake hands before or after a game.
• Ensure only the Skip handles the score cards at all times.
• Do not pick up other players bowls.
• Ensure members have provided you with up-to-date contact details.
• Have identified appropriate spaces to be used as an isolation area – inform family/friends who can come and pick up any ill members at nearest convenience. This is why having current up-to-date contact details is important.
• Contact Bowls Canterbury in the unlikely event that one of your members is suspected or confirmed to have the virus.

As a regional sporting organisation; Bowls Canterbury’s has a priority for the health and wellbeing of all community members and this will be applied through the consideration we show through personal hygiene, our lack of tolerance for xenophobea, rumours and innuendo

Coronavirus Update 1 - send to members - 12/03/2020

You may have seen that today the World Health Organisation has now declared COVID-19 to be a pandemic. As noted by the Minister of Health, this doesn’t change what New Zealand is doing to respond to coronavirus.

The Ministry of Health has been working through its pandemic plan since January. You may also know the Government has already implemented a range of measures to minimise the impacts to New Zealand. This includes border restrictions, a requirement to self-isolate on arrival in New Zealand from China, Iran, Italy and the Republic of Korea and immediate and detailed contact tracing of any confirmed cases. It is important to note those four countries account for more than 90% of cases globally and China and the Republic of Korea have significantly declining numbers of new cases.

We have 5 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand and it is pleasing to know they are all doing well and are at home. While we expect that more cases will arise, the Ministry of Health says that with continued vigilance the chance of widespread community outbreak is expected to remain low in New Zealand. We all have a role to play in this.

You may have also seen the Prime Minister sat down with Dr Michelle Dickinson and the Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor, Juliet Gerrard, to talk about coronavirus:

• Watch on the PM’s Facebook page
• Read and watch on the Newshub website

One other action we can all take is to be vigilant about our own health and the health of our families. We encourage members stay away from the club and other bowling club events if they are showing signs of illness such as coughs and colds. Colds and flus can be common amongst sports club and by staying away, seeking medical attention and practicing good hygiene, we can all keep any spread of illness to a minimum.