CJFL Message - COVID-19

We know our teams continue in their preparation for the upcoming season with off-season training and player evaluation camps. We need to stay informed and provide our teams with ongoing information as we get it from informed agencies such as the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and each provincial health agency/authority. We will work with Football Canada and other governmental agencies in this regard.

At this time, PHAC has assessed the public health risk associated with COVID-19 as low for the general population in Canada but this could change rapidly. There is an increased risk of more severe outcomes for Canadians:

• aged 65 and over
• with compromised immune systems
• with underlying medical conditions

While a COVID-19 outbreak is not unexpected in Canada, our public health system is prepared to respond. PHAC, along with provincial, territorial and community partners, continues to reassess the public health risk, based on the best available evidence as the situation evolves.

Updated information is available on the PHAC website, https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html, and from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Preventative measures are available on these websites with the most important being good hygienic practices.

Proper hygiene can help reduce the risk of infection or spreading infection to others:

• wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the washroom and when preparing food
• use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
• when coughing or sneezing:
  • cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your handdispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined waste basket and wash your hands afterwards
  • avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
• clean the following high-touch surfaces frequently with regular household cleaners or diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 9 parts water):
  • toys
  • toilets
  • phones
  • electronics
  • door handles
  • bedside tables
  • television remotes

As new information emerges we will need to take this into consideration for the health and safety of our players, on-field personnel, fans, and everyone involved with our football programs. I am certain there will be many questions as we go through the next few days, weeks and months so we should endeavour to coordinate our response based on the best available information.