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Tighten controls

by Barbados Today
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Sports physician and administrator Dr Adrian Lorde  is calling on authorities to appoint COVID-19 coordinators at all facilities to ensure that protocols are put in place and followed. This, he said, should be in addition to signage at all sport venues to remind all and sundry of relevant regulations.

Lorde, the first chairman of the North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association Sports Medicine Commission, said he was not aware how many sporting organizations had carefully put protocols in place, and whether they were being followed properly.

“Proper signage at facilities should be erected to remind all of COVID-19 protocols. We need to take this COVID-19 pandemic seriously. This respiratory virus is invisible, easy transmitted and can be found on surfaces for many hours or days after being present. The general protocols should be followed and common surfaces cleaned before and after use with the appropriate solutions. Actually, double headers should be discouraged. All national sports federations, clubs and schools should develop protocols depending on their sport and submit them to the COVID 19 Monitoring Unit for approval before returning to training and competition,” Lorde told Barbados TODAY.

He added: “We are watching sports on television being played as per usual but these competitions are being held in a bubble and strict protocols are in place. Too many Barbadians are relaxed in their attitude towards COVID-19 since there is no established community spread. We must be aware that most persons with COVID-19 have no symptoms and therefore exposure is easy and likely, hence proper protocols must be followed at all times. My advice to sportspersons is to protect yourself (and others), and keep sports safe at all times by following the recommendations decided on including wearing a mask when in close contact with others outside of competition especially in indoor sports. If not satisfied, or if the sport will result in too close contact, then until a vaccine is ready, no training or competition should resume. A mask can save lives”, Lorde said”.

He advised that any sportsperson who may have had contact with someone who was suspected to have or had contracted COVID 19 should receive a PCR test before resuming play, and self-quarantining should be done until cleared.

“A sportsman who has COVID 19 should have a full medical examination including an electrocardiogram done before returning to sporting competition, as significant cardiac complications such as myocarditis or arrythmias (irregular heartbeats) are not uncommon even weeks after having been deemed viral free,” Lorde explained.

Lorde said he not think the recent cluster of COVID-19 victims had a direct impact on sports in a significant way but added it should serve as a reminder to sportspersons that like the general public they too must adhere to the health protocols issued by the authorities.

Two weeks ago, the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) deemed the T20 Shield Zone D match between St Catherine and Ellerslie School a No Decision after two students at the Black Rock, St Michael-based school were diagnosed with COVID-19. As a result of this discovery all students of the school were asked to self -quarantine and temporarily suspended from all cricket activities held under the management of the BCA.

“I do not think the recent cluster of COVID-19 victims has made a direct impact on sports on the island in any significant way. What it indicated is that sportspersons like the general population, should follow the recommended government public health protocols of wearing masks, when not in actual play, washing hands, physical distancing when on the  bench or in the pavilion, with no congregating after the games, stop the huddling and hugging, stop shaking hands, have temperatures taken on entry  to the facilities, no sharing of equipment, water bottles or towels and have a plan in place if someone falls ill during or after competition,” the founding president of Barbados Sports Medicine said.

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