NOTICE TO ALL - COVID Guidelines & Players Isolating

There appears to be some confusion on what to do if an individual has tested positive.

All guidance can be found on the NHS website in relation to the next steps if someone has tested positive or if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive.

If you have tested positive - You will be contacted by NHS Test and Trace who will ask where you have been recently and who you have been in close contact with - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/nhs-test-and-trace-if-youre-contacted-after-testing-positive-for-coronavirus/

If you're told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/nhs-test-and-trace-if-youve-been-in-contact-with-a-person-who-has-coronavirus/

When to self-isolate and what to do-

If you think you've been in contact with someone who has coronavirus, but you do not have symptoms and have not been told to self-isolate, continue to follow social distancing advice.

Main symptoms

The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

• a high temperature - this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
• a new, continuous cough - this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
• a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste - this means you have noticed you cannot smell or taste anything, or things smell or taste different to normal

Most people with coronavirus have at least 1 of these symptoms.

What to do if you have symptoms

If you have any of the main symptoms of coronavirus:

• Get a test to check if you have coronavirus as soon as possible.
• Stay at home and do not have visitors until you get your test result – only leave your home to have a test.
• Anyone you live with, and anyone in your support bubble, must also stay at home until you get your result.

Regarding your games directly

If you have a player who has either tested positive or has been identified as a potential direct contact and been instructed by the relevant bodies to isolate they MUST isolate until they reach the end of the isolation date stated on their correspondence which will be 14 days from last contact (you will be given a date). Please note if it is a school isolation they may give a return date for the Monday but the isolation end date may be the Friday or Saturday for example – the isolation end date is the key information. Proof of isolation may be required by your registrar for the players involved.

You/Your players do NOT need to isolate unless you are instructed to do so directly as you have been identified as a direct contact, are symptomatic awaiting testing, or have tested positive.

In the case of isolation, unless the child within the isolation period becomes symptomatic, they can return to normal as soon as that period is complete. If during that period they develop symptoms they must follow the above continued isolation, test etc process.

Playing with reduced availability/isolated players

If you have players told to isolate which takes your team below the normal playing squad requirement you may continue the game as usual so long as you are not below the FA minimum squad size. However, if requested, and upon receipt of proof of isolations, your game can be postponed and rearranged.

If you have players isolating which keeps you above the normal squad requirement the game would be expected to go ahead.

If in addition you have other players unavailable, for whatever reason, the ruling will revert to the FA format of minimum number of players that will constitute a team, as also detailed in the League Handbook (rule 20 (d) page 17)

• 5v5 = 4 minimum
• 7v7 = 5 minimum
• 9v9 = 6 minimum
• 11v11 = 7 minimum

Failure to play any scheduled league games within the above guidelines, in line with the NHS and Government guidelines, will be deemed not fulfilment of fixture and the relevant sanctions imposed as detailed in the league fines tariff.

Any queries please contact:

Gavin on   07901 229251 email: secretary@barnsleyanddistrictjfl.co.uk

John on     07753 413229 email: welfare@barnsleyanddistrictjfl.co.uk

Regards
Gavin Logan
BDJFL League Secretary