COVID-19 Update for Industry Participants (5 September 2021)

NOTICE TO ALL PARTICIPANTS – UPDATED PROTOCOLS (5 September 2021)

**TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH PREVIOUS RELEASES**

Requirement to Adhere to NSW Health Orders and Racing NSW COVID-19 Policies and Protocols

Racing NSW thanks the vast majority of NSW racing participants that have complied with the NSW Health Orders and Racing NSW COVID-19 policies and protocols that have been implemented to protect the health and safety of NSW thoroughbred racing industry participants and the livelihood of all involved. Racing NSW also acknowledges that many have made great sacrifice to ensure these polices and protocols have been complied with.

The unfortunate recent occurrences in Victoria and the ACT involving a small number of licensed participants outlines how the health, safety and livelihoods of all thoroughbred industry participants can be jeopardised by the actions of a select few.

Whilst the industry has been able to continue to operate during the pandemic, Racing NSW takes this opportunity to ask participants to remain steadfast with their compliance to the Racing NSW policies and protocols, and of course all NSW health orders, which are summarised at the link below.

Click Here – Stay At Home Orders

Participants are encouraged to continue to monitor the Racing NSW website for COVID-19 updates at the link below to ensure compliance to all COVID-19 requirements and contact Racing NSW Stewards if they have any questions.

Click Here – Racing NSW Covid-19 Policies

Restricted LGA’s of Concern

On 20 August 2021 additional rules were announced in respect to the following restricted LGA’s of concern.

Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown, Liverpool, Cumberland, Blacktown, Parramatta, Campbelltown, George’s River, Bayside, Burwood and Strathfield and Penrith suburbs of Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, St Mary’s, North St Mary’s, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park and St Clair

Currently only authorised workers, as defined by NSW Health, who live in these LGA’s are permitted to leave or work within these LGA’s for authorised work. NSW Health has advised that Essential Personnel attending to horses for animal welfare needs (including feeding and exercise) are considered to be authorised workers and may continue to work, including leaving their LGA for the purpose of doing so. Authorised work does not include attending race meetings.

Racing NSW still requires all authorised workers who reside in a restricted LGA of concern to have a PCR COVID-19 test every 3 days, when attending a racecourse outside of the LGA of concern they reside in. These results are to be provided to Racing NSW Stewards. Consistent with the NSW Government policy on COVID-19 surveillance testing, any person that obtains a COVID-19 surveillance test and does not have any COVID-19 symptoms does not need to self-isolate until receiving their negative test result.

Essential Personnel are advised to ensure they carry their Racing NSW Licence Identity Card to display to the NSW Police should they be questioned by police when travelling to work. If asked, Essential Personnel should provide this identification to Police and advise they are performing animal welfare work as an authorised worker.

Randwick Racecourse

As notified on 15 August 2021, and to protect the ongoing operation of the NSW racing industry at Randwick racecourse, Racing NSW has determined that;

  • Essential Personnel whose place of residence is in the LGA’s or suburbs listed above (excluding Bayside) are not permitted to attend Randwick racecourse or Randwick licensed premises until further notice.
  • Subject to vaccination requirements and obtaining a workers permit as detailed below, Essential Personnel whose place of residence is in the LGA of Bayside may attend Randwick racecourse and stables on animal welfare grounds, on the condition they provide Racing NSW with a negative COVID-19 test before attending and further negative tests every 3 days thereafter. Such persons may be subject to rapid COVID-19 testing by Racing NSW.
  • Essential Personnel who reside in the above listed LGA’s or suburbs are not permitted to attend any race meeting or barrier trials.

Vaccinations – Restricted LGA’s of Concern

Effective Monday 6 September 2021

The NSW Government has ordered that any authorised worker that works outside their restricted LGA of concern, must have had their first vaccination dose by 6 September 2021. Accordingly any authorised worker in this category must have their first dose of vaccine by 6 September 2021 to be eligible to be able to leave their restricted LGA of concern to attend a racecourse for animal welfare purposes.

For example – a stablehand or trainer that lives in the Cumberland LGA and works at stables at Rosehill Gardens (Parramatta LGA) must have had their first dose of vaccine by 6 September 2021 to continue to be permitted to leave their LGA of concern (Cumberland) to work at Rosehill Gardens.

Authorised workers that work within the restricted LGA of concern where they reside are not required to obtain a vaccine, but Racing NSW encourages all Essential Personnel to get vaccinated.

For Example – a stablehand or trainer that lives in the Liverpool LGA and works at stables at Warwick Farm (Liverpool LGA) does not require the first dose of vaccine by 6 September 2021 to continue to be able to be work at Warwick Farm. However, Racing NSW encourages all Essential Personnel to get vaccinated.

Workers who are subject to these vaccination requirements, must send evidence of their vaccination status to [email protected] before attending work on Monday 6 September 2021.

Workers Permits – Restricted LGA’s of Concern

Effective Saturday 28 August 2021

  • Essential Personnel who are authorised workers that are travelling from a restricted LGA of concern to work, are required to have a workers permit issued by Service NSW.
  • Essential Personnel who do not live in a restricted LGA of concern but are travelling to a restricted LGA of concern to work, are required to have a workers permit issued by Service NSW.

Workers permits can be obtained at.

Click Here – Workers Permit

Recent COVID-19 cases at Warwick Farm and Rosehill have highlighted the need for workers to have their workers permit which have been required by NSW Health to be produce. Failure to obtain an appropriate workers permit may result in significant fines being issued by NSW Police.

 Workers Permits – Leaving Greater Sydney

Effective Saturday 21 August 2021

Essential Personnel who do not reside in the restricted LGA’s of concern may leave Greater Sydney for the purpose of work where they cannot reasonably work from home, which includes working at a race meeting, provided they have a workers permit issued by Service NSW. Workers permits can be obtained at.

https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/register-your-travel-within-nsw

Use and Fitting of N95 Face Masks

  • N95 face masks are the most effective mask to prevent the spread of the Delta strain and accordingly Essential Personnel are required to use this type of mask when present on a racecourse or licensed premises. At a minimum surgical mask must be worn if a N95 mask is not available.
  • Cloth masks are ineffective against the Delta strain and therefore their use is not permitted.
  • Government orders mandate that face masks must be worn at all times when in an indoor area of a non-residential premises throughout NSW. Premises include in the workplace, such as inside stable premises or offices.
  • The link below provides instructions as to how to fit the N95 mask to ensure it is providing the best protection from COVID-19.
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