Important information for Tasmanian racing industry regarding COVID-19

Coronavirus (COVID-19) is a respiratory virus that Tasracing has been closely monitoring.

To ensure that racing participants take the necessary precautions to prevent contracting COVID-19, Tasracing provides the following advice to participants in all three racing codes in respect of ensuring they reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading within the racing and broader community. Information provided by the Department of Health has advised that COVID-19 spreads from person to person most likely through the following ways:

close contact with an infectious person.
contact with droplets from an infected person’s cough or sneeze.
touching objects or surfaces (like doorknobs or tables) that have cough or sneeze droplets from an infected person, and then touching your mouth or face.

Extract from Public Health Document on Self Isolation

Everyone coming into Tasmania will now be required to quarantine for 14 days. This means domestic travellers from mainland Australia and those travelling from overseas.

People need to self-isolate at home or in their accommodation if they:

Have returned from overseas on or after 16 March.
Have been in or transited through China or Iran in the past 14 days.
Have returned from South Korea on or after 5 March.
Have returned from Italy on or after 11 March.
Been in ‘close contact’ with a confirmed case.
Develop fever OR acute respiratory infection (eg shortness of breath, cough, sore throat) within 14 days of returning from anywhere overseas.
Have arrived in Tasmania from overseas or interstate on or after 20 March.

Those who return from overseas on or after 16 March (1 above) need to self-isolate at home or in their accommodation for 14 days. If they remain well, they can then leave self-isolation and return to normal activities.

Those who have travelled or been in contact with a confirmed case (2–5 above) need to self-isolate for 14 days from leaving mainland China, South Korea, Italy or Iran or having close contact with a confirmed case. If they remain well, they can then leave self-isolation and return to work /school and normal duties.

Those who are sick (6 above) should self-isolate and call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.

There are some circumstances in which an exemption from the need to quarantine can be sought. Each application for exemption will be assessed individually on its merits.

Essential travellers are defined under the following criteria:

NATIONAL AND STATE SECURITY AND GOVERNANCE
HEALTH SERVICES
TRANSPORT, FREIGHT AND LOGISTICS
1. Any person who in the carriage of his or her duties is responsible for provision of transport or freight and logistics into, within and out of Tasmania; and
2. Flight Crew and ship crew, for the limited period of delivery of persons, freight or logistics into, within and out of Tasmania, and for no other purpose.
SPECIALIST SKILLS CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING KEY INDUSTRIES OR BUSINESSES
AN EMERGENCY SERVICE WORKER
OTHER EXEMPTIONS

Being exempt from the need to quarantine for 14 days does not make incoming people exempt from following directions to limit the spread of coronavirus. All visitors must exercise a high degree of caution and practice social distancing measures whilst in Tasmania to conduct their essential business.

This is especially relevant to horse transport staff. It is Tasracings responsibility to take all measures to ensure racing continues in Tasmania.

All Participants should ensure that they acquaint themselves with the following advice in respect to preventing the spread of COVID-19 and regularly practice good hygiene to protect against infections. The Department of Health recommends:

Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Thoroughly dry your hands after washing them.
Maintain at least 1 metre distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Practice respiratory hygiene – Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Avoiding close contact with others, such as touching.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth – Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
If you have fever (high temperature), cough or difficulty breathing, seek medical care early – Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Wear a facemask if you are unwell and need to be around other people, to protect others.

Stable/kennel Staff/greyhound handlers and Service Providers (Farriers/Float Drivers) If you experience any of the symptoms detailed above, do not attend your workplace and notify your employer of the symptoms you are experiencing and advise of your unavailability to attend work. You should isolate yourself and immediately seek medical advice by calling Coronavirus Heath Information Line on 1800 020 080 or your medical practitioner.

Horse Transport Providers Should ensure that they acquaint themselves with the following advice in respect to preventing the spread of COVID-19 and regularly practice good hygiene to protect against infections.

Minimise contact with trainers and stable staff when delivering horses.
Drivers should take all reasonable steps to maintain at least 1.5 metre (2 steps) distance between themselves and any staff during delivery.
Drivers should regularly and thoroughly clean their hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.

Whilst Horse transport providers, their drivers and delivery staff, are exempt from the 14 day self isolation requirements they should take all precautions to minimise contact with Tasmanian racing participants to minimise any risks.

Trainers across all three codes If you experience any of the symptoms detailed above, do not attend your workplace and make arrangements for a senior member of your staff to be in charge of your stable. You should isolate yourself and immediately seek medical advice by calling Coronavirus Heath Information Line on 1800 671 738 or your medical practitioner. Trainers must report any symptom experienced by an employee or themselves to the Tasmanian Office of Racing Integrity. Stables that have an employee that is experiencing COVID-19 symptoms must ensure that all staff members continue to practice good hygiene and immediately report to their supervisor should they commence to display any COVID-19 symptoms. Under no circumstances should any participant experiencing COVID-19 symptoms attend any race meeting, barrier trial or public gathering.

Jockeys If you experience any of the symptoms detailed above, do not attend any racecourse or racing stable and notify the Office of Racing Integrity of the symptoms you are experiencing. Immediately seek medical advice by calling Coronavirus Heath Information Line on 1800 671 738 or your medical practitioner. Under no circumstances should any jockey experiencing COVID-19 symptoms attend any race meeting, barrier trial or public gathering.

On raceday jockeys should ensure that they throughout the day regularly practice good hygiene as described above. In addition, jockeys should:

Avoid unnecessary contact with other riders;
Ensure that proper hygiene is practiced in meals areas;
Avoid contact with other licensed persons, owners and public members;
Immediately report to the Stewards on raceday any COVID-19 symptom they commence to experience and adhere to any direction of the Stewards who shall act upon medical advice

Harness drivers If you experience any of the symptoms detailed above, do not attend any racecourse or racing stable and notify the Office of Racing Integrity of the symptoms you are experiencing. Immediately seek medical advice by calling Coronavirus Heath Information Line on 1800 671 738 or your medical practitioner. Under no circumstances should any driver experiencing COVID-19 symptoms attend any race meeting, trial or public gathering.

On raceday drivers should ensure that they throughout the day regularly practice good hygiene as described above. In addition, drivers should:

Avoid unnecessary contact with other drivers;
Ensure that proper hygiene is practiced in meals areas;
Avoid contact with other licensed persons, owners and public members;
Immediately report to the Stewards on raceday any COVID-19 symptom they commence to experience and adhere to any direction of the Stewards who shall act upon medical advice

Officials including greyhound handlers If you experience any of the symptoms detailed above, do not attend any racecourse or racing stable and notify the Office of Racing Integrity of the symptoms you are experiencing. Immediately seek medical advice by calling Coronavirus Heath Information Line on 1800 671 738 or your medical practitioner. Under no circumstances should any Official or greyhound handler experiencing symptoms similar to COVID-19 attend any race meeting, barrier trial or public gathering.

On raceday Officials should ensure that throughout the day regularly practice good hygiene as described above. Greyhound handlers should take great care when loading boxes and follow directions to ensure a reasonable distance is maintained.

In addition, Officials should:

Avoid contact with licensed persons, owners and public members;
Immediately report to the Stewards on raceday any COVID-19 symptom they commence to experience and adhere to any direction of the Stewards who shall act upon medical advice.

Coronavirus Health Information Line
Call this line if you are seeking information on novel coronavirus. The line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week – 1800 671 738.

For further information, participants should contact the Office of Racing Integrity or Tasracing.