News & Results

COVID-19 UPDATE

8 Sep 2020

Geoff Sinclair on behalf of the VPA has requested that we join with Equestrian Victoria, HRCAV, PCV and RDAV to have a unified response to COVID in Victoria and to ensure we have a ‘voice” with the department of Sport and Recreation plus other government departments. The group is pleased to have VPA join them.

On Monday 7^th September the group met with the government and advise that the current restrictions for Stage 4 Metropolitan Melbourne and Stage 3 Regional Victoria, will remain in force until the Victorian Roadmap to Reopening commences from 11:59pm 13 September 2020.

METROPOLITAN MELBOURNE ROADMAP

For Metropolitan Melbourne, the First Step Commences at 11:59pm on 13 September 2020. Restrictions for equestrian activity remain the same as currently in place for Stage 4 - Metropolitan Melbourne.

Subject to trigger points and public health advice, the government MAY then move Melbourne Metropolitan to the Second Step from 28 September 2020, but ONLY if those trigger points have been met. We are still awaiting clarification of what the impact on equestrians under Step 2, Metropolitan Melbourne may be.

When will Metro Melbourne move to the Second Step?
Metro Melbourne can move to the second step after 28 September 2020 AND when we reach an average daily case rate in metro Melbourne of 30 to 50 cases over a 14 day period with public health advice regarding transmission source.

First Step - CURRENT AFTER 14^th SEPTEMBER

• Outdoor recreation - must be within 5km home, all sport and recreation facilities closed, outdoor playgrounds open
• Exercise - outdoors, up to two hours per day total, split into a maximum of two sessions. You can exercise with one other person or members of your household

Second Step - CURRENT AFTER 28 SEPTEMBER AND:

• We reach an average daily case rate in metro Melbourne of 30 to 50 cases over a 14-day period with public health advice regarding transmission source.
• Outdoor recreation - must be within 5km home, outdoor personal training allowed with up to 2 people per trainer, outdoor pools open in addition to playgrounds, which are already open
• Exercise - outdoors, up to two hours per day total, split into a maximum of two sessions

Third Step - CURRENT AFTER 26 OCTOBER AND:

• Daily average number of cases in the last 14 days is less than 5 (state-wide) AND 
• Less than 5 cases with an unknown source in the last 14 days (state-wide total)
• Outdoor contact and non-contact sport for people aged 18 and younger, outdoor non-contact sport only for adults, with gathering and density limits, outdoor skateparks open, outdoor fitness for groups of 10 people

Last Step - CURRENT AFTER 23 NOVEMBER AND: WHEN:

• There are no new cases for 14 days. 
• The time period must pass AND the number of cases must be low enough to move to the next step. This is a trigger point for public health review.
• Website: https://www.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covid-19-restrictions-roadmap-metro-melbourne
• PDF: http://bit.ly/MelbRoadmap

• No exercise restrictions
• Facilities open subject to safety measures. Organised contact sports resume for all ages. Limitations for spectators

LINKS

REGIONAL VICTORIA ROADMAP

For Regional Victoria, the Second Step commences at 11:59pm on 13 September 2020. Restrictions for equestrian activity remain the same as are currently in place for Stage 3 - Regional Victoria.

When will Regional Victoria move to the Third Step?
When specified trigger points and public health conditions are met, then, the Government MAY move Regional Victoria to Step 3. Those trigger points are when:

• Daily average number of cases in the last 14 days in Regional Victoria is less than 5 AND
• Less than 0 cases in Regional Victoria with an unknown source in the last 14 days

 

First & Second Step – CURRENT AFTER 14^th SEPTEMBER

• Outdoor recreation - must be within 5km, all sport and recreation facilities closed, outdoor playgrounds open
• Exercise - outdoors, up to two hours per day total, split into a maximum of two sessions. You can exercise with one other person or members of your household

Third Step – WHEN BELOW IS MET:

• Daily average number of cases in the last 14 days in Regional Victoria is less than 5 AND
• 0 cases in Regional Victoria with an unknown source in the last 14 days
• This is a trigger point for public health review
• Outdoor contact and non-contact sport for people aged 18 and younger, outdoor non-contact sport only for adults, with gathering and density limits, outdoor skateparks open, outdoor fitness for groups of 10 people

Last step – CURRENT AFTER 23 NOVEMBER AND WHEN:

• There are no new cases for 14 days across Victoria.  
• The time period must pass AND the number of cases must be low enough to move to the next step. This is a trigger point for public health review.

• No exercise restrictions
• Facilities open subject to safety measures. Organised contact sports resume for all ages. Limitations for spectators

LINKS

• Website: https://www.vic.gov.au/restrictions-roadmap-regional-victoria
• PDF: http://bit.ly/RegionalRoadmap
  

The current provision to care for your horse/s under animal welfare grounds is still in place. This applies to both Metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria.

We must all remember that we are in the middle of a global pandemic. Victoria is at the centre of this pandemic in Australia, and how we all behave over the next few weeks determines how successful or otherwise we emerge on the other side. We understand that there will be disappointment and frustration that there is no further relaxation of restrictions at this point, but the groups will continue to advocate on behalf of the equestrian community.

For Victorian Polo and all equestrians, we must show ourselves to be exemplary in the implementation of the government rules so that we can be part of their plan to allow outdoor sport to come back sooner.

Simple rule independent people like us are not used to following but are the new normal:

Wear a mask or face covering

Don't go to work if you feel sick or unwell

Physical distancing (1.5 metres)

Cough and sneeze into tissue or elbow

Good hand hygiene

Stay safe - looking forward to our first hit outs.

 

Peter Evans

VPA - President

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