Canadian Lacrosse Association Medical Information Bulletin - COVID-19 (coronavirus)
On January 25, 2020, the Government of Ontario reported the first case of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Canada. Canada’s chief public health officer is in ongoing contact with provincial and territorial chief medical officers of health to ensure any cases of COVID-19 occurring in Canada continue to be rapidly identified and managed in order to protect the health of Canadians.
The Public Health Agency of Canada currently assesses the public health risk associated with COVID-19 as low for Canada and for Canadian travellers. Public health risk is continually assessed as new information becomes available. Updates on COVID-19 can be found at:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html
This situation serves as a reminder that the health and safety of participants is a priority, and prevention in the lacrosse environment should be considered by those around the game.
The following are recommendations that should be considered at all times during lacrosse programming:
- · Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available. Make soap and/or hand sanitizer available in dressing rooms and hotels.
· Avoid contact with sick people, including avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
· Gloves should be worn by staff handling towels or laundry in the team environment.
· Towels should not be shared on the team bench. Players should not share clothing, bar soap or other personal items such as razors.
· The Canadian Lacrosse Association recommends the following protocol as it relates to the use of water bottles:
-Good team hygiene includes ensuring all players and staff have their own water bottles to prevent the transmission of viruses and bacteria.
-Bottles should be labelled and washed after each practice or game.
-It is further recommended that officials avoid the practice of drinking from the goaltender’s water bottle. If officials require water during a game, we suggest they have their own water bottle at the penalty bench.
-There should not be sharing of water bottles in the penalty box, as well as no sharing of towels.
· Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, wash hands).
· Advise players to try and not touch their own mouths or nose when in the lacrosse environment to reduce the chance of them passing an infection on to themselves.
· Monitor illness and injury in all teams. Parents are urged to keep their children away from the lacrosse environment if they are showing any signs of infectious disease or virus.
· Team members should be encouraged to self-report if they feel ill.
· Fist bump with lacrosse gloves on, instead of shaking hands.
· Monitor travel restrictions on the Government of Canada Travel Advisory website, which can be found at https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories.
Good hygienic practices will help to maintain a healthy team atmosphere and ultimately assist in keeping all participants healthy throughout the rest of the season.
If any questions please contact Jane Clapham, Executive Director.
Any questions related to play restrictions (within provinces) should be directed to the Member Association.
Jane Clapham
Executive Director
Canadian Lacrosse Association
About the Canadian Lacrosse Association
Founded in 1867, the Canadian Lacrosse Association (CLA) is the governing body responsible for all aspects of lacrosse in Canada. Our organization is comprised of 10 Member Associations representing nearly 85,000 individual participants, including coaches, officials, and athletes of all ages and abilities. The CLA's mission is to honour the sport of lacrosse and its unique nation-building heritage, by engaging our members, leading our partners, and providing opportunities for all Canadians to participate. The CLA oversees the delivery of numerous national championships and the participation of Team Canada at all international events sanctioned by World Lacrosse. The CLA is proud to be affiliated with partners that share the same vision and values, including our corporate partners - NormaTec Recovery Systems, Canadian Red Cross, WestJet, RockTape and Baron Rings - as well as our funding partners the Government of Canada, the Coaching Association of Canada, and the Canadian Lacrosse Foundation. For more information on Canadian Lacrosse Association and the sport of lacrosse, visit our website at www.lacrosse.ca and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
For more information, please contact:
Jane Clapham
Executive Director
Canadian Lacrosse Association
Phone: 613-260-2028 ext. 304
Email: jane@lacrosse.ca
