COVID rules for community sport tightened in NSW

End-of-season awards nights are among a raft of activities NSW Health is encouraging community sports organisations to ban.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant in Sydney on Monday. Picture: Getty Images.

End-of-season awards nights are among a raft of activities NSW Health is encouraging community sports organisations to ban amid fears of further outbreaks of the coronavirus.

In a letter sent to community sports bodies on Monday night, state Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant urged clubs to suspend competitions in which players mix from teams from other ­regions. Events involving overnight stays, such as multi-day training camps, are mentioned due to the heightened risk of COVID-19 transmission that can result from shared facilities.

Awards ceremonies, end-of-season gatherings and post-training dinners are also being discouraged.

Dr Chant suggested clubs halt car pooling or bus travel involving people from different households.

“These updated recommendations will help us to meet the NSW government’s aim of achieving no community transmission in NSW and will support community clubs to continue operating safely,” the letter read.

Dr Chant urged clubs to implement the changes from Wednesday, and said she anticipated they would be in place for six weeks.

NSW reported seven new cases of coronavirus on Monday, with six locally acquired. But Premier Gladys Berejiklian said health authorities were concerned about “potential undetected strains of coronavirus in southwest and western Sydney”.