YNZ advice to clubs during Covid-19 alert levels

Yachting and Boating Quarterly - Edition 3

Issue date

15 Apr 2020

Updated: April 16, 2020

The Government today announced new information on what is permitted under alert level 3. This included information on work, business, education, gatherings, exercise and recreation, including sailing and boating.

Yachting New Zealand fully endorse the actions taken by the Government in the response to Covid-19 and encourage everyone to follow the advice. We all want to get back out on the water as soon as we can but it’s important we stick to the rules, no exceptions. As the Government have outlined in their guidelines, hunting, boating, yachting and any team sports or training are not allowed.

Yachting New Zealand are working with the Government, Ministry of Health and Sport New Zealand to better understand when clubs can start operating again, even at a reduced capacity.

We have developed a document to assist the New Zealand sailing community by informing them of what Yachting New Zealand consider the best course of action at each alert level. It is based on the information available at the time of writing and will be updated as further information and guidelines come to hand, so keep checking with the Yachting New Zealand website and social media and contact chief executive David Abercrombie if you have any questions.

The New Zealand Government and Ministry of Health - Manatū Hauora directives, guidelines and information supersede any information provided by Yachting New Zealand.

The Government has released Alert Levels which can differ by region at any one time, so the location of your club could be under specific direction of the Government.

Yachting New Zealand encourage all yacht clubs to consider their own situation at any given time. A club’s decision on whether to allow training or racing needs to be based on the situation and advice given in your local area at the time.

Additional guidance can be found on the Sport New Zealand website or your local Regional Sports Trust website and the Aktive website has some useful information and services.

Kia kaha
David Abercrombie
Yachting New Zealand chief executive

Alert Level 4

Eliminate
Likely that disease is not contained

Risk Assessment

Sustained and intensive transmission
Widespread outbreaks

Government measures

People instructed to stay at home
Educational facilities closed
Businesses closed except for essential services (e.g. supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics) and lifeline utilities
Rationing of supplies and requisitioning of facilities
Travel severely limited
Major reprioritisation of healthcare services

Yachting New Zealand measures

The Yachting New Zealand office is closed – staff are working from home
No NZL Sailing Team, Aon Fast Track or Aon Youth Clinic sailing is taking place - training at home only
No sailing regattas are taking place (either cancelled or postponed)
Meetings, workshops or events are not taking place (unless an online option can be held)
No international or domestic travel (outside of local area) for Yachting New Zealand staff or athletes

Yachting New Zealand recommendations to yacht clubs

All clubs and facilities closed, and all activities suspended
All staff or volunteers should work from home

Alert Level 3

Restrict
High risk that the disease is not contained

Risk Assessment

Community transmission might be happening
New clusters may emerge but can be controlled through testing and contact tracing

Government measures

People instructed to stay home in their bubble other than for essential personal movement – including to go to work, school if they have to or for local recreation.
Physical distancing of 2m outside home (including on public transport), or 1m in controlled environments like schools and workplaces.
People must stay within their immediate household bubble, but can expand this to reconnect with close family / whānau, or bring in caregivers, or support isolated people. This extended bubble should remain exclusive.
Schools (years 1 to 10) and early childhood education centres can safely open, but will have limited capacity. Children should learn at home if possible.
People must work from home unless that is not possible.
Businesses can open premises, but cannot physically interact with customers.
Low risk local recreation activities are allowed.
Public venues are closed (e.g. libraries, museums, cinemas, food courts, gyms, pools, playgrounds, markets).
Gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed but only for wedding services, funerals and tangihanga. Physical distancing and public health measures must be maintained.
Healthcare services use virtual, non-contact consultations where possible.
Inter-regional travel is highly limited (e.g. for essential workers, with limited exemptions for others).
People at high risk of severe illness (older people and those with existing medical conditions) are encouraged to stay at home where possible, and take additional precautions when leaving home. They may choose to work.

Yachting New Zealand measures

The Yachting New Zealand office is closed - staff are working from home
No NZL Sailing Team, Aon Fast Track or Aon Youth Clinic sailing is taking place - training at home only. Online learning seminars and opportunities are being held, with more being devised over time
No sailing regattas are taking place (either cancelled or postponed)
Meetings, workshops, or events are not taking place (unless an online option can be held)
No international or domestic travel (outside of local area) for Yachting New Zealand staff or athletes

Yachting New Zealand recommendations to yacht clubs

All clubs and facilities closed, and all activities suspended
All staff or volunteers should work from home

Alert Level 2

Reduce
Disease is contained, but risks of community transmission remains

Risk Assessment

Household transmission may be occurring
Single or isolated cluster outbreaks

Government measures

Physical distancing of 1m outside home (including on public transport).
Gatherings of up to 100 people indoors and 500 outdoors allowed while maintaining physical distancing and contact tracing requirements.
Sport and recreation activities are allowed if conditions on gatherings are met, physical distancing is followed and travel is local.
Public venues can open but must comply with conditions on gatherings, and undertake public health measures.
Health services operate as normally as possible.
Most businesses open, and business premises can be open for staff and customers with appropriate measures in place. Alternative ways of working encouraged (e.g. remote working, shift-based working, physical distancing, staggering meal breaks, flexible leave).
Schools and early childhood education centres open, with distance learning available for those unable to attend school (e.g. self-isolating).
People advised to avoid non-essential inter-regional travel.
People at high risk of severe illness (older people and those with existing medical conditions) are encouraged to stay at home where possible, and take additional precautions when leaving home. They may choose to work.

Yachting New Zealand measures

The Yachting New Zealand office is open - some staff may be working from home
All NZL Sailing Team, Aon Fast Track and Aon Youth Clinic training is risk assessed to determine if it will proceed with appropriate measures of safety maintained
Yachting New Zealand regattas are risk assessed and alternative methods of delivery are considered (online briefings, contact minimal, no prizegiving etc).
Meetings, workshops, events or external activities are risk assessed. Online options are encouraged.
No international travel.
Limited domestic travel (outside of local area) for Yachting New Zealand staff or athletes.

Yachting New Zealand recommendations to yacht clubs

To determine whether your club should be allowing training at your location, you will need to assess your club’s ability to:

Follow the Government guidelines on the number of people allowed in a facility at one time
Ensure that high-risk people do not enter the facility
Record the contact information and time of all people accessing the facility
Ensure your facility has extensive signage and information regarding precautions for managing COVID-19
Ensure your facility has an up-to-date cleaning schedule and adequate provisions to facilitate good hygiene practices (especially the changing / bathrooms, storage areas, kitchen facilities and equipment)
Ensure staff are properly briefed on all information regarding precautions for managing COVID-19
All club events or regattas should be risk assessed and reviewed to determine if they will proceed. Decisions made on a case-by-case basis
All workshops, face-to-face meetings and external activities should be risk assessed and reviewed to determine if they will proceed. Decisions made on a case-by-case basis

Alert Level 1

Prepare
The disease is contained in New Zealand

Risk Assessment

COVID-19 is uncontrolled overseas
Isolated household transmission could be occurring in New Zealand

Government measures

Border entry measures to minimise risk of importing COVID-19 cases
Intensive testing for COVID-19
Rapid contact tracing of any positive case
Self-isolation and quarantine required
Schools and workplaces open, and must operate safely
Physical distancing encouraged
No restrictions on gatherings
Stay home if you’re sick, report flu-like symptoms
Wash and dry hands, cough into elbow, don’t touch your face
No restrictions on domestic transport – avoid public transport or travel if sick