Bowls Canada issues Second COVID-19 Statement

March 13, 2020

Ottawa, ON | March 13, 2020

Bowls Canada continues to closely monitor all available information related to the continued spread of the novel Coronavirus COVID-19 (coronavirus), including the relevant positons from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), Canada’s chief public health officer and the World Health Organization (WHO).  The health and safety of our athletes, coaches, officials, employees, volunteers, fans, partners and all associated with Bowls Canada remains our priority.

Given the declaration by WHO of the pandemic status of COVID-19, yesterday Bowls Canada made the decision to postpone all BCB organized events scheduled between now and Easter.  Visit the WHO website for more information on COVID-19. 

In response to today’s announcements by the Government of Canada, Bowls Canada as an organization will be practising social distancing to do our part to keep the infection curve flat and we will be working from home for the next two weeks effective Monday, March 16.  This means that we will be unable to fill orders for the next two weeks.  We ask that our stakeholders email office@bowlscanada.com rather than call the office so that we can respond in a timely fashion.

We are recommending that our provincial associations make informed decisions regarding upcoming meetings and events by considering the PHAC Guidelines regarding mass gatherings.

We continue to recommend the following precautions for all of our stakeholders:

  • Monitor illness and follow your local health authority’s recommendations regarding self-isolation, testing and medical care.
  • Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds frequently. (Advice on handwashing intensity is to pretend that you have just cut hot jalapeno peppers with your bare hands and now need to change your contact lenses).
  • Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
  • Make soap and/or hand sanitizer and disposable tissues easily accessible at gatherings.
  • Avoid contact with sick people, including avoiding close contact with people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing. Dispose of the tissue immediately and wash your hands.
  • Practice cough etiquette (maintain distance, cover coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues or clothing, wash hands).
  • Avoid touching your face and mouth to reduce the chance of passing an infection to yourself.
  • Close physical contact with an opponent that may expose a player to risk, such as picking up teammates or opponents bowls, shaking hands, delivering the jack, picking up mats, measuring etc. Implement an elbow bump protocol to replace handshake and hugging greetings. Also ensure equipment is cleaned after use, if there is multiple use.
  • Respect the recent Government of Canada advisory to avoid all non-essential travel.
  • There is no need to alter your exercise or training if you are feeling well.
  • There is no need to wear a mask in public if you are well.
  • Heed your provincial government’s advisory regarding the size and proximity of public gatherings as any mass gathering represents an increased opportunity for infection spread.

The Public Health Agency of Canada is continuously monitoring the public health risk associated with COVID-19 as new information becomes available. Updates on COVID-19 can be found at:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html