Queensland Touch Football (QTF) wanted to provide an update regarding current COVID-19 requirements of Affiliates and Regions in the current environment.
On Thursday 11 March 2021, the Premier made an announcement regarding further easing of restrictions in Queensland. From 1am Saturday 13 March 2021, the following changes came into effect:
Gatherings
- Gatherings in residences will be increased to 100
- Gatherings in public outdoor places will increase to 500
COVID Safe Events
- Outdoor events with fewer than 500 people per day do not require a COVID Safe Event Checklist or further approval. Occupant density and the requirement to collect contact information does not apply.
- Outdoor events with;
- 500 and 1,499 people per day – must comply with a COVID Safe Event Checklist, no further approval needed.
- 1,500 and 10,000 people per day – must comply with a COVID Safe Event Plan approved by local public health units. The event organiser must submit the COVID Safe Event Plan for approval a minimum of 10 business days prior to the event taking place;
- Over 10,000 people per day – must comply with a COVID Safe Event Plan approved by the Chief Health Officer. The event organiser must submit the COVID Safe Event Plan for approval a minimum of 20 business days prior to the event taking place.
- Multi-day events with on-site accommodation are subject to the same rules as events without on-site accommodation.
- No changes to Indoor Events.
Further changes and ease of restrictions can be viewed here: Queensland COVID Safe Future.
As a result of the amendments to Public Health Directions, COVID Safe Industry plans for sport, recreation and fitness will need to be updated accordingly. Sport and Recreation will amend the COVID Safe Industry Plans where necessary, and submit to Queensland Health for approval and publishing. Until such time, the Restrictions on Businesses, Activities and Undertakings Direction (the Direction) will take precedence over the Industry Plans. We will advise once the Plans have been published and available on the Return to Play website.
As you know, Industry COVID Safe Plans continue to play a vital role in helping to ensure a safe and healthy environment for your members to participate in sport and/or recreation activities. Please ensure any of your activity specific return to play documentation or advice is updated and shared with your members.
As a reminder, the key principles for compliance to share with your affiliates and members includes:
- Occupant density requirements of one person per two squares metres at indoor venues and adhering to physical distancing requirements for outdoor venues
- Physical contact permitted on the ‘field of play’ only
- Continued cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces and equipment
- Promotion of good hand and respiratory hygiene
- Collection and storage of contact tracing information
To assist organisation will the collection of contract tracing information, the Check In Qld app is now available to download and use. The advantages of this particular check in app include:
- Registration and use of the app is free
- Organisations using the app will no longer need to store information as the data entered by users is stored securely by Queensland Health.
- By using the Check In Qld app it will help make contact tracing faster and more reliable.
- Registered organisations will receive a set-up guide including QR Code posters for display in multiple, accessible onsite locations.
Use of the app is not mandatory however is one platform organisations can use to manage contact tracing requirements. To assist with promotion of the app, the Queensland Government have developed a resource kit including social media graphics and icons for use on websites or marketing material. Available on the Check In Qld app website.
