Rowing ACT COVID-19 update 22 March 2020

Rowing ACT COVID-19 update 22 March 2020

Dear ACT Rowing Community,

Just over a week ago we were preparing for the biggest
weekend’s racing in the ACT since the 2013 Masters Championships. Today the ACT
Government announced that all non-essential businesses will be closed down;
while full details have not come out as yet, we anticipate that this will
include sporting clubs and organisations.

To prepare for this upcoming closure, Rowing ACT recommends
that clubs get ready for what could be an extended closure by:

•            
cleaning boat sheds;

•            
emptying rubbish bins;

•            
removing consumables;

•            
asking people to take any personal possessions they may want access to;

•            
ensuring that sheds have sufficient security precautions.

Any working group to help with this should be a small one to
maintain sufficient social distancing and that members are not from or connected
to vulnerable parts of the community.

Rowing ACT recommends that individuals with private boats do
not row, as we have no capacity to provide support to rowers who go on the
water from the time of the ACT Government closure. Anyone that chooses to row
during this shutdown does so at their own risk.

In line with Rowing Australia’s recommendations issued last
week, Rowing ACT recommends that anyone rowing up until the commencement of the
ACT Government closure should do so in the smallest boat possible, to reduce
the risk of exposure and potential spread of the disease.

Given this announcement the Winter Time Trial series is
considered suspended until further notice.

Rowing ACT will continue to work with Rowing Australia to
develop at-home training and strength & conditioning courses to keep people
active during this time. We will also work with RA on potential online indoor
rowing competitions and other online rowing resources that might be available
for you all.

Both the Federal and ACT Governments have announced a range
of measures that look to support businesses during this extremely difficult
time. Information on the Federal Government’s support measures can be found at https://treasury.gov.au/coronavirus/businesses,
while the ACT Government’s measures can be found at https://apps.treasury.act.gov.au/budget/covid-19-economic-survival-package/local-business-and-industry.
Any sport-specific measures will be passed on by Rowing ACT once we have them
to hand.

These are completely unprecedented times for us all. We hope
that everyone stays safe throughout this pandemic and like everyone, look
forward to the time when we return to a level of normalcy again.

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