Quarantine, Isolation and Contact Tracing Plan

Every country has different case prevalence and growth rates for COVID-19. In many countries where PST lockdown measures are being relaxed there is still community spread.

In countries where COVID-19 case prevalence is high and community spread is present, Unions and Competitions should ensure that Clubs have a set of plans to manage suspected cases in both training and playing situations. They should liaise with their local public health and/or government authority to create an action plan which ensures that any potential spread is prevented. As the course of the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, local public health guidelines for quarantine for suspected cases is likely to change so regular contact with the pertinent authorities is crucial.

• If an infected person enters the facility and trains or plays with the squad, a plan will be required to deal with quarantine and testing for those players and staff who are deemed close contacts.
• Contact tracing is a crucial part in the prevention of disease spread and Rugby must play an integral part in preventing any possible infection clusters. A copy of WHO guidance on contact tracing is available here. This will be managed by local public health and/or government authorities, and team collaboration will ensure an efficient means of dealing with emergent cases.
• In such an event the Club must have details of everyone who was at the facility with the infected person and be able to contact any person who has been a contact.

When a person (players, coaches, support staff) at a facility or ground develops symptoms of COVID-19 (fever (measured or feeling feverish), cough, sore throat, runny nose or nasal congestion, tiredness, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle pain, loss of send of smell or taste, diarrhoea) they should immediately notify a medical practitioner and/or the COVID-19 manager. The management should include:

• Immediate isolation of the person in the dedicated Isolation area.
• Contact with public health authorities to arrange transfer of the person, testing and isolation.
• The facility should be thoroughly cleaned in accordance with all instruction from relevant public health and/or government authorities.
• Management of isolation for those who are exposed to close contact with the infected person will be directed by the relevant public health and/or government authorities.

Many Unions and Competitions will implement a testing protocol, most likely PCR testing of a nasopharyngeal swab. We have already seen in sports which have returned around the world, that asymptomatic persons may have a positive PCR test. These players should isolate and follow public health guidelines prior to returning to facilities.

If the infected person is a player or staff member who has been a close contact of other members of the squad this will impact availability to train and play:

• The squad should avoid close contact training until they have consulted with public health and/or government authorities, and thorough contact tracing procedures are completed.
• Unions, Competitions and Clubs need to give consideration to the postponement of fixtures in relation to individual and/or squad cases of suspected or confirmed COVID-19. Public health and/or government guidance should always be obtained to guide this process. Contingency planning for such an event should be agreed prior to commencing competition.