COVID Guidelines – May 2022

The Club accepts no liability if you choose to participate in the events and develop COVID.

The club recommends participants perform a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) prior to coming on any trips to minimise risk of COVID spread within the group.

Health Screening

To protect yourself and group members, you must NOT attend this trip if you have

· Fever / Temperature > 37.5 degrees

· Chills or sweats

· Cough

· Sore throat

· Shortness of breath

· Runny nose

· Loss or change in sense of smell or taste

· Headache, muscle soreness, stuffy nose, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

· Waiting for COVID test results / required to isolate

If you are in a high risk category, including > 65 years old or have a pre-existing medical condition, you should consider carefully whether you participate.

If you develop any of these symptoms or a temperature during the trip, you must let the leader know immediately and you will need to leave trip / isolate if unable to leave.  

Part of agreeing to come on a trip includes taking a RAT (provided by the club) if a trip leader requests you to.

Physical Distancing and Good Hygiene

Please practice physical distancing and good hygiene to minimise the risk of infection.

· Maintain a distance of 1.5 metres between yourself and others.

· Where you cannot maintain 1.5 metres distance, consider use of face masks (DHHS COVID Safe Guidelines)

· Wash hands or use hand sanitiser when required.

· Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow and wash hands afterwards

COVID Positive

If you turn COVID positive on any of the trips, you must leave the trip immediately.

Household Contact Close Contact (i.e. Accommodated trips / carpooling)

For accommodated trips and carpooling, participants need to be aware that if you spend more than 4 hours in an accommodation / car with someone who is COVID positive, DHHS would consider you an Household Contact. You will need to follow the DHHS guidelines for household contact (as of 26/5/22 – RAT test 5 out of 7 days / mask indoors) Checklist for COVID contacts | Coronavirus Victoria

Social Contact (indoor spaces)

DHHS consider someone as a social contact if you have spent more than 15 minutes face to face with someone who is COVID positive or 2 or more hours in the same indoor space. You must follow the DHHS guidelines for Social Contact (as of 26/05/2022 – RAT test for 5 consecutive days)
Checklist for COVID contacts | Coronavirus Victoria

Transport

Carpooling has increased risks due to the inability to physically distance / length of time in the car. Carpooling is at individual’s discretion. The club recommends participants wear a face mask in line with DHHS COVIDSafe Guidelines re mandatory masks for rideshares. Utilise the fresh air setting on the heater rather than recycled air. 

Refunds

For accommodated trips, unfortunately refunds will not be available for individuals who cancel due to COVID as the club will still incur the cost for the booking.

Please let trip leaders know as soon as possible, in case someone else can be offered the booking.