Bulldogs and COVID-19

BULLDOGS FOOTBALL SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT PERTAINING TO CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

 Without question, this is an unprecedented period of difficulty for everyone inside and outside the sports world.

The health and safety of all Bulldogs family members is our highest priority and for that reason, we are distributing this communication at this time.

We are more than 2 months away from the first game of the season and the situation is very much in flux. It will be important for all to monitor communications from the Club as things could change rapidly.

It serves no purpose to contribute to some of the misinformation causing hysteria in some sectors of our society as it serves only to create fear & panic ultimately creating situations that can be worse than the sickness itself.

We have received word from the OPFL that as things presently stand there are no plans to delay or cancel the 2020 season, simply because the season is still 2+ months away. It was recommended that each club work on its own policies that will best serve their club given the circumstances that exist in their region / area. We are in constant contact with the league & other clubs. We will update you if circumstances change in the next 2 months.

It is very important to note that the North Bay area is considered very low risk for infection at this time as there are no (0) cases of COVID 19 here yet. Within this context, the following are the Bulldogs policy adjustments for dealing with the coronavirus event this spring & summer:

POLICY

1-        We are asking all families with players who have come in contact with someone who has just returned from out of the country where there has been an outbreak to not come to practice for 2 weeks.

2-        If a player feels sick or has flu type (cough, fever, sore throat, gut discomfort) symptoms to stay home and away from practice or team events until fully recovered. Nobody will lose their spot for being off sick.

3-        If a player or family member in contact with a player tests positive for COVID 19 infection, that the Bulldogs are informed immediately, please.

4-        We will assign someone at our practices and pre-season workouts to observe players specifically for symptoms.

5-        All players come to workout / practice with their own water bottles with their names clearly marked on them. There will be no team bottles for now. We will still have coolers to refill, but only personal water bottles.

6-        We will update families regularly as we approach and go through the season.

FACTS WE KNOW ABOUT CORONA VIRUS*
 

1-        The virus is not airborne by itself. The way it travels is inside droplets of water coughed, or sneezed out by an infected person. It is spread mainly from infected person to another person in close contact.

2-        An infected person’s cough or sneeze can infect another person within 6 feet away. Droplets will fall to the ground rather quickly.

3-        The virus must enter the body through an opening like eyes, nose, mouth or a cut.

4-        A reasonably healthy human immune system will successfully combat & defeat this virus in a short time frame.

5-        The elderly & those with existing immune system weaknesses are those who can develop serious sickness from this virus. Vast majority of deaths to date involve the very old & already sick people not able to fight it off.

6-        The virus can live for as long as 3 days on hard surfaces, mostly indoors. Outdoors depending on sunlight the virus is infectious for shorter periods of time, largely due to the

         sun’s UV light & its ability to neutralize viruses.7-        The BEST way to reduce your chances of infection is to WASH your HANDS with SOAP & WATER for 20 seconds often throughout the day. Your hands touch everything and touches your face hundreds of times per day. If you happen to touch someone or something that has the virus on it, you can prevent infection by washing your hands. Try to catch yourself before touching your face.

8-        Baby wipes & many sanitizing cloths do nothing for you. The only hand sanitizer that will perform as well as soap are sanitizers that contain a minimum of 60% alcohol. Most other wet wipes are considered ineffective.

9-        Wearing a face mask is NOT good for you if you are healthy. Your own breath will saturate the material with droplets of your water. Those droplets of water can capture an air borne droplet containing a virus and start to multiply in the warm humid facemask. Then with the next inhaling breath you become infected.

10-    A facemask is only effective in capturing infected droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

11-    Only facemasks designed specifically for the purpose of preventing virus spreading should be worn by people caring for a COVID 19 positive sick person.

12-    Numbers are changing rapidly and we will likely get cases of COVID 19 in North Bay, but for the time being there are 0.

13-    The Toronto area is the epicenter of infections in Ontario, but still considered low risk.

14-    In most cases a person is contagious a day or so before experiencing symptoms and throughout the period in which they are sick and for a few days after. In some cases an infected person with a strong immune system could be contagious for several days prior to symptoms showing up. Still much to learn from this virus.

15-    The manufacturers of toilet paper have reported that they have more than 6 months inventory and even if half their staff fell sick, they will be able to supply us all with toilet paper, so there is no need to fill your closets full of toilet paper!!

from government of Canada publications (www.canada.ca), Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov – FAQ), World Health Organization (www.who.int)

RECOMMENDATIONS

If everyone practiced these simply recommendations, the spread of the virus would be sharply curbed and we could have a significant effect on slowing or reversing the effect of this pandemic.

  1. The BEST method to wash away a virus is to WASH your HANDS for 20 SECONDS with SOAP & WATER.
  2. Only use sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol or more.
  3. If you are sick, stay home and let family know. Observe your symptoms and if needed get tested.
  4. Do NOT wear a store-bought face mask, unless you are sick.
  5. Avoid contact with people who are sick.
  6. If you travel to Toronto, or any community where this virus is spreading, be extra vigilant in washing hands, less touching your face and avoiding people who appear sick.
  7. If you are sick… stay home.
  8. If you are sick, cough into your sleeve or in a tissue or wear a facemask.
  9. Using diluted bleach sanitizer or sanitizer with 60%+ alcohol, clean your cell phone and hard surfaces touched by many people at home a little more than usual.