The advice below is relevant to all adult and underage players.
Close v Casual Contacts – current definition for GAA
- If a player reports positive symptoms on their Health Questionnaire, or has tested positive for Covid-19 within the 48 hour period following a training session or game, members of the infected player’s team and backroom team (e.g. Manager, Coach, Selectors etc) should be considered close contacts until advised otherwise by Public Health authorities.
- If the incident occurs arising from a game situation between two different teams, a risk assessment should be performed by Public Health in line with current HPSC Guidelines (FOR HPSC GUIDELINES CLICK HERE) to ascertain whether some or all of the members of the opposing team should be considered close contacts.
Process:
In either of the scenarios outlined above, the following process should be followed:
- Player should not attend training/game/work, should self-isolate and contact GP to arrange testing.
- Player should also inform Covid supervisor of relevant team
- If the positive symptomatology has arisen and a match has occurred involving that player in the preceding 48 hours, a risk assessment should be performed by Public Health to ascertain whether some or all of the members of the opposing team should be considered close contacts
- Player undergoes Covid swab test (usually arranged by Public Health Authorities within 24 hours of referral).
If positive symptoms in player are within 48 hours of last collective training session or game, his/her team should:
- Defer all activity (training and games) until test results are available as all squad will be considered close contacts if the individual tests positive for Covid 19.
- If the test is negative, training and games can resume while continuing to adhere to all control measures & pre training / games health questionnaire. The player can return to activity once symptom free for 48 hours.
- If the test is positive – all further activity suspended until public health contact tracers carry out full close contact assessment and testing.
- Team members (including Manager, Coach, selectors etc) self-isolate as per public health advice and until advised otherwise
At all times, players who test positive should get medical assessment and clearance prior to returning to training and competitive activity.
Please note that Public health expert advice is evolving in this area and current guidance will be updated regularly.
