Given the evolving nature of COVID 19 Coronavirus, the RFU has sent out a notice to all clubs containing useful advice and asking that clubs have procedures in place for minimising the local spread of the virus and dealing with any cases which may occur at the club.

Please can all members, players and supporters take note of the following:

If you have returned from the listed specific areas below since February 19th, you should call NHS 111 and self-isolate at home even if you do not have symptoms:

• Iran
• Specific lockdown areas in Northern Italy as designated by the Government of Italy
• Special care zones in South Korea as designated by the Government of the Republic of South Korea
• Hubei province

Additionally, if you have returned from the following listed areas since February 19th and developed symptoms, however mild, you should self-isolate at home immediately and call NHS 111.

N.B, in these cases you do not need to self-isolate if you have no symptoms.

• Northern Italy (defined by a line above, and not including, Pisa, Florence and Rimini and excepting the specific lock down areas in which case you must self-isolate)
• Vietnam
• Cambodia
• Laos
• Myanmar

If you have returned from the previously identified geographic areas within the past 14 days and developed symptoms, however mild, you should self-isolate at home immediately and call NHS 111.

If you believe you have been in contact with a positive tested patient for Coronavirus you should remain at home and call NHS 111.

Latest Government updates on the spread of the virus are detailed here on the Government website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public.

Management of Suspected Coronavirus Patients at the Club:

If a player or spectator is well but has recently returned from one of the Specific Listed Areas detailed above, they should be asked to go home, self-isolate and call NHS 111.

If a player or spectator becomes unwell or displays symptoms whilst at the club please contact the Officer of the Day or other club representative as soon as possible. The patient should be put into an isolated room until they can be transferred to appropriate medical care. Either the Physio room or the Official’s room can be used for this purpose.

Record Keeping

It is highly likely that in the event of a Coronavirus case being identified, the authorities will need to know who the patient has been in contact with prior to showing symptoms.

All age groups and teams have therefore asked to keep an up to date register of attendance at training and matches and players are asked to comply with this request.

Preventing spread of infection

Public Health England (PHE) recommends that the following general cold and flu precautions are taken to help prevent people from catching and spreading COVID-19:

• cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze.
• put used tissues in the bin straight away
• wash your hands with soap and water often – use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available.
• try to avoid close contact with people who are unwell
• clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
• do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean

Specific advice for teams

Team members are to be reminded of the importance of good personal hygiene especially hand washing with soap and hot water.

Always carry tissues with you and use them to catch any coughs or sneezes.

Avoid sharing towels, shirts and bibs. Where necessary remove any shared shirts, bibs and towels for laundering, this should be done on a hot wash 60°C.

The use of paper hand towels is recommended.

If players are worried about symptoms, they should call NHS 111 for advice. Do not go in person to your club doctor, GP or other healthcare environment.