Africa-Press – Lesotho. Following its suspension of all sporting activities on March 18 2020, the Lesotho Sports and Recreation Commission (LSRC) has called on all National Sport Associations (NSA) ready to resume
training or competitions, to submit an action plan proposal clearly showing a mitigation plan that will be in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19). LSRC Information Officer Pule Rantšeli in an interview with Informative Newspaper highlighted that on the circular issued last
week, LSRC classified all affiliated sport codes from low, medium to high risk as the decision to re-open sports activities was considered. He stated that sport codes classified as lower risk can be done individually or with social distancing with none to minimal contact and sharing of equipment.
This includes the ability to clean the equipment between use by competitors such as athletics, cycling and chess. The medium risk sports involve close and sustained contact but with protective equipment in place – that may reduce the likelihood of respiratory particle transmission between participants. On the other hand the high risk segments is for sports that encourage close, sustained contact however insisting on lack of
protective barriers, which means high probability that respiratory particles will be transmitted between participants for instance soccer, dance sport and rugby.
Thus low risk sports can resume provided they have in place and satisfy stated guidelines. They are advised to consult with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and fully understand how Covid-19 is likely to be transmitted, and beware of the level of conduct as a basis when considering reopening of sports activities.
LRSC further stated that it has informed each NSA to comply with the following guidelines to reopen training and competitions. It is noted that health checks and
screening is compulsory to all participants before training sessions and competitions, testing must be done for camping teams or athletes and must at least take 14 days.
Beyond this, interaction with outside personnel shall be prohibited. Identified and approved facilities must be sterilized daily and between sessions if necessary, training schedule must be maintained at all times, no sharing of equipment will be allowed during training or competition unless teams or participants have been tested for COVID-19 and routine of non-disinfection of high touch items such as balls, racquets, bats, and other equipments is done. Moreover, social distancing, hand hygiene and encouragement of face masks must be followed. It is compulsory to also adhere to facility or field specific guidelines for COVID-19 and other guidelines that the NSA may be provided with by World Health Organization (WHO) and MoH. LSRC acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Teboho Malataliana said the Ministry of Gender Youth Sports and Recreation will provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
and other means of support during the re-opening of sport activities to combat the spread of COVID-19. Recommended sports facilities (government and privately owned) for the re-opening of the sports activities (training and competition) include Setsoto stadium, Lehakoe Recreational Center, Maseru club, National tennis courts and Bambatha Tšita Sports Arena based on control to access.
All sporting activities were initially halted in late March in an effort to minimize the spread of Coronavirus in line with recommendations from various authorities.
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