COVID-19 PROTOCOL UPDATES
Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA), has developed the following Return to Activities plan in response to COVID-19 which prioritizes the health and safety of everyone involved.
The plan aligns with guidance set forth by the State of Pennsylvania, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Special Olympics International (SOI).
SUMMARY:
- All SOPA Local Programs inclusive of sport training, competition, meetings, social gatherings and Young Athletes are required to follow all of the guidance and requirements in the SOPA Return to Activities plan.
- As per the State of Pennsylvania and SOI’s requirements, SOPA must designate a COVID-19 Coordinator to keep current with phases and all compliance requirements, coordinate response, and monitor for COVID-19.
- Each site must have a designated COVID-19 Coordinator. This individual will receive training resources from SOPA.
- Special Olympics Pennsylvania is monitoring COVID-19 new cases daily per 100,000 people on a rolling 7-day average through the Pennsylvania Department of Health. A 7-day moving average, takes the case rates per 100,000 people for the last 7 days, adds them up, and divides it by 7. There are multiple “operating protocols” found in the matrix. Where your community transmission and vaccination rates intersect determines your operating protocol.
- The SOPA Field Director will email Local Program Managers and COVID-19 Coordinators on a weekly basis with the COVID-19 community transmission rates (low, moderate or significant) of each county as well as an abbreviated version of the Return to Activities plan which includes the mitigation protocols.
- The COVID-19 Coordinator is expected to implement the required mitigation protocols weekly depending on the COVID-19 community transmission rate (low, moderate or significant).
Following is our Return to Activities plan and resources to help you better understand what to expect.
RESOURCES FOR EVERYONE:
RESOURCES FOR Managers, AssT. Managers, Sport & Competition, Training, FUNDRAISING, and COVID-19 Coordinators:
RESOURCES FOR COACHES:
RESOURCES FOR ATHLETES AND PARENTS/GUARDIANS:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT:
Q: Who must complete the COMMUNICABLE DISEASES PARTICIPANT (ATHLETE AND VOLUNTEER) RISK ASSESSMENT, CODE OF CONDUCT, AND WAIVER?
A: Every participant (athletes, Unified partners, coaches, volunteers, family members, caregivers or others in attendance of an activity) is required to complete the COMMUNICABLE DISEASES PARTICIPANT (ATHLETE AND VOLUNTEER) RISK ASSESSMENT, CODE OF CONDUCT, AND WAIVER prior to the start of an in-person activity.
Q: How do people without a computer complete the COMMUNICABLE DISEASES PARTICIPANT (ATHLETE AND VOLUNTEER) RISK ASSESSMENT, CODE OF CONDUCT, AND WAIVER?
A: The COMMUNICABLE DISEASES PARTICIPANT (ATHLETE AND VOLUNTEER) RISK ASSESSMENT, CODE OF CONDUCT, AND WAIVER must be electronically signed and submitted via Google Forms.
If a participant does not have access to submit electronically or ability to send a photo of the completed form to the site COVID-19 Coordinator, participant must schedule a call with the site COVID-19 Coordinator at least 24 hours prior to the first in-person activity to verbally provide their answers to the site COVID-19 Coordinator.
Site COVID-19 Coordinator will enter form electronically based on information provided by participant.
Q: What happens if a participant refuses to sign the COMMUNICABLE DISEASES PARTICIPANT (ATHLETE AND VOLUNTEER) RISK ASSESSMENT, CODE OF CONDUCT, AND WAIVER?
A: This participant would not be able to participate in any in-person activities. Prior to returning to any in-person SOPA activities in Phases B through E, all participants are required to complete and return a COMMUNICABLE DISEASES PARTICIPANT (ATHLETE AND VOLUNTEER) RISK ASSESSMENT, CODE OF CONDUCT, AND WAIVER.