Covid-19

Coronavirus (Covid-19) - Latest Update  19 July

Latest guidelines from both the Government and the LTA recommend that tennis clubs maintain certain of the sensible precautions to protect members’ & non-members’ health both on and off the court.  Though many restrictions have now disappeared as legal requirements, C.C.T.C. supports NHS Track & Trace efforts and best practices including the following :-

Check for COVID-19 symptoms. Before attending any tennis activity, players (like officials, volunteers and coaches) should self-assess for symptoms of COVID-19. These are :-

  • a high temperature
  • a new, continuous cough
  • a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste

Follow Track & Trace procedures. Sign the T&T sheets posted by the clubhouse door for all club social sessions or use the QR code on the main gate ; Continue to use the club booking system for all private sessions ; Use the gel provided on each court and follow sensible social practices wherever possible.

Take Part Safely. Players and spectators should continue to :-

  • Follow good hygiene practices – Use gel applicators ; maintain social distances where possible.
  • Avoid sharing water bottles or other refreshment containers. Where possible, you should take your own drink, in a labelled or highly distinguishable container.
  • Face coverings are recommended in crowded and enclosed settings.

Best regards - - C.C.T.C. Committee.

July 20, 2021

Note : Please go to the LTA website for their latest guidelines

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For further information the full LTA transcript of July 19th, 2021 is as follows :-

 

ENGLAND RETURN TO PLAY GUIDANCE UPDATE :

The move to Step 4 on July 19 sees the removal of a large number of restrictions, with no set restrictions on how many people can take part in sport and physical activity.

The following simple overarching guidance of key considerations for tennis venues, coaches, officials and players is a summary of relevant Government guidance. 

 

Step 4 Guidance (19 July)

The country has moved to Step 4 of the Government roadmap from 19 July, meaning that most legal restrictions have been lifted. There are no longer any restrictions on how many people can take part in tennis activity, indoors or outdoors.

The Government has published guidance for the public and sports providers on how to organise and participate safely in sporting activity.

Tennis remains a naturally socially distant sport and relatively low risk activity. However, undertaking the following key considerations can help to ensure the safety of participants when attending tennis venues for officials, coaches and volunteers, reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19.

 Participants

Tennis is a naturally socially distant sport, but players should take the following steps to reduce the risk of transmission when attending and participating in tennis activity.

1. Check for COVID-19 symptoms. Before attending any tennis activity, players (like officials, volunteers and coaches) should self-assess for symptoms of COVID-19. These are:

  • a high temperature
  • a new, continuous cough
  • a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste

If you, or anyone you live with, have one or more of these symptoms you should not attend any sporting activity, even if your symptoms are mild. You should follow NHS guidance on testing and self-isolation. If you have been informed that you need to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace (or are required to self-isolate in relation to travel), you must do so. You should not leave your isolation location in order to participate in sport and physical activity. You can find more information in the NHS guidance on how to self-isolate.

 2. Follow your provider’s safety measures. The venue you are attending, coach or provider may put in place safety measures, which could include asking you to ‘check in’ using the NHS app to scan their QR code, supporting NHS Test and Trace.  Whilst this is no longer a legal requirement for venues or participants, it can support NHS Test and Trace and reduce risk of transmission of the virus.

 3. Take part safely. As a socially distant sport, the risk of transmission of COVID-19 whilst participating is low. However, participants should continue to:

  • Follow good hygiene practices, to reduce the risk of transmission in sport environments. Also consider the wishes of other participants (i.e. if they do not wish to shake hands after a match).
  • Avoid sharing water bottles or other refreshment containers. Where possible, you should take your own drink, in a labelled or highly distinguishable container.

Face coverings are no longer required by law, but the government expects and recommends that people should continue to wear them in crowded and enclosed settings, to protect themselves and others.

Venues

In line with Government guidance, we recommend tennis venues undertake the following priority actions.

  1. Complete a health and safety risk assessment that includes risks from COVID-19. This should take into account any reasonable adjustments needed for staff and customers with disabilities, and should be shared with any staff. More information is available in the Government’s guidance and HSE guidance. There is additional advice for event organisers in the Events and Attractions guidance.
  2. Turn people with COVID-19 symptoms away. Staff members, customers and participants should self-isolate if they or someone in their household has symptoms of COVID-19. They must also self-isolate if they or someone in their household has had a positive COVID-19 result, or if they have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace. If you know that a worker is self-isolating, you must not ask or make them come to work. It is an offence to do this.
  3. Provide adequate ventilation. Venues should make sure there is a supply of fresh air to enclosed spaces where there are people present. This can be natural ventilation through windows, doors and vents, mechanical ventilation using fans and ducts, or a combination of both. More information is available in the HSE guidance on ventilation and air conditioning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  4. Clean more often. Venues should increase how often they clean surfaces, especially those that are touched a lot. Staff and customers should be encouraged to use hand sanitiser and clean their hands frequently.
  5. Enable people to check in at your venue. It is no longer a legal requirement to collect contact details, however doing so will help to support NHS Test and Trace to reduce the spread of the virus. Venues can enable people to check in by providing an NHS QR code poster, though you do not have to ask customers to check in or turn them away if they refuse. If you display an NHS QR code, you should also have a system to collect (and securely store) names and contact details for those who ask to check in but do not have the app.
  6. Communicate and train. Keep all your workers, contractors and visitors up-to-date on how you’re using and updating safety measures.

 Further detailed considerations for venues are outlined on the Government website.