COVID-19 Update For Industry Participants (11th Nov 2020)

Racing NSW has taken advice from its biosecurity expert and with no new COVID-19 cases reported in Victoria for the last 12 days, the following changes to the Racing NSW COVID-19 protocols have been implemented.

Horses travelling from Victoria

Effective immediately, Racing NSW has removed restrictions in respect to horse movement across the NSW/Victorian border and horses are now permitted to travel from Victoria into NSW directly to a racecourse or licensed premises, subject to government orders and the appropriate COVID-19 permits.

Persons transporting horses from Victoria must still follow all proper bio-security measures and ensure they continue to social distance at all times.

Persons Travelling from Victoria

The NSW Government has announced that effective 12:01am on 23 November 2020, the border between NSW and Victoria will reopen. Subject to any amendments to this advice or further restrictions imposed by the NSW Government, Racing NSW will allow person to travel from Victoria to NSW racecourses or licensed premises without having to self-isolate.

The decision to permit this unrestricted travel is subject to Racing NSW imposing any additional conditions it considers appropriate on or after 23 November 2020, including for persons who have attended a known COVID-19 hotspot or venue. Participants should continue to monitor the Racing NSW website for any further updates.

Further, participants are advised that until 23 November 2020, all other restrictions that require persons to self-isolate for 14 days and undertake a negative COVID-19 test before attending a racecourse or licensed premises remain in place.

Persons Travelling from New Zealand

Subject to any restrictions imposed by the NSW Government, persons may attend a NSW racecourse or licensed premises after travelling from New Zealand without the requirement to self-isolate or supply a COVID-19 test.

COVID-19 Protocols

Participants are advised that all other COVID-19 protocols remain in place for the attendance at NSW racecourses and licensed premises including:

• All racecourses to have COVIDSafe plans for race meetings, barrier trials and trackwork, including the meeting of government social distancing requirements and capacity limits. Race clubs should also ensure those attending the racecourse have not attended a known COVID-19 hotspot or venue in the last 14 days.

• Any person who has attended a location and has been advised to self-isolate or to monitor symptoms by the NSW Health Department must report such occurrence to Racing NSW Stewards and abide by all requirements of the Health Department and Stewards. Trainers must immediately report any advice of this nature to Racing NSW Stewards in respect to any staff member or employee.

• Jockey raceday protocols remain in place, including maintaining of jockey/official zones, taking of temperature upon arrival, use of spas being prohibited and the use of separate colours by jockeys.

• Race clubs required to meet government social distancing requirements and capacity limits. Owners are not permitted to attend trainers stables or licensed premises.

• Only essential personnel being permitted to attend trainers’ stables and licensed premises.

• Any person travelling from an international jurisdiction (other than New Zealand) must contact Racing NSW Stewards before entering a NSW racecourse or licensed premises, in addition to abiding to all NSW Government orders.

– Racing NSW

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