TTA Update Statement - Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Table Tennis Australia Ltd. (TTA) is continuously monitoring the situation regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its impact on TTA national events and the broader table tennis community. As such, TTA provides the following update.

1. National Events
The 2020 National Senior, Youth & Para Championships are currently planned to go ahead from 10-18 April in Brisbane, as are the 2020 National Junior Championships (5-11 July in Mandurah) and the 2020 National Veterans Championships (26 September-3 October in Darwin). TTA will also continue to implement a series of measures to minimise the risk of the virus to players, officials, volunteers and spectators who attend the events. Should the Government implement travel restrictions or further containment measures, TTA may be required to reschedule the various tournaments to later in the year.

2. National Squads
There is no change in the current programs and athletes are encouraged to visit the AIS COVID-19 website for the latest information. This dedicated webpage has been created to provide an overview of the currently available information highlighting the unique needs and challenges for high performance sport in Australia. This can be viewed by clicking here: https://ais.gov.au/health-wellbeing/covid-19

3. Clubs and Associations
Restrictions are in place for people who have recently returned to Australia from China, Iran and Republic of Korea. TTA is recommending the following advice to all clubs and associations.

In the following scenarios, you should not attend your club/association.
1) If you have left, or transited through the Republic of Korea on or after 5 March, you must isolate yourself until 14 days after leaving the Republic of Korea.
2) If you have left, or transited through Iran on or after 1 March, you must isolate yourself until 14 days after leaving Iran.
3) If you have left, or transited through mainland China, you must isolate yourself until 14 days after leaving China.
4) If you have been in close contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19, you must isolate yourself for 14 days after last contact with the confirmed case.

Additionally, please see below for suggested guidelines that clubs/associations should implement to minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19.

For the latest information, please head to the following links:
a) Federal Department of Health: 
https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert
b) World Health Organisation:  
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

TTA is closely monitoring this situation and will provide further updates if there are any changes or Government advice impacting the table tennis community.

CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) SUGGESTED GUIDELINES
In order to minimise the risk of spreading COVID-19, it is recommended that all table tennis venues undertake the following risk mitigation strategies:

1) Ensure hand sanitiser is present at the entry/exit to the venue, together with a sign that strongly encourages everyone who enters/exits the venue to apply hand sanitiser. 
2) Ensure that hand sanitiser is present in all toilets at the venue, together with a sign that mandates that everyone must use hand sanitiser after using the toilet.
3) Prohibit the practice of players wiping their hands on the table.
4) Allow players to not feel obligated to shake hands with their opponent and the umpire before/after matches.

Suggested alternates are 1) a verbal thank you, 2) nodding of the head or bowing, or 3) raising a hand in acknowledgement.

NOTE: For all National Championships and National Team trips, all players, coaches, officials, and volunteers will be provided with hand sanitiser.