The Tompkins County Health Department is alerting the public of COVID-19 guidelines for sports and recreation. New York State Reopening Guidelines have specific types of play allowed for higher-risk, moderate risk, and lower-risk sports. Higher-risk sports include but are not limited to football, ice hockey, basketball, and volleyball. Competitive team practices and games, meets, matches and scrimmages are not allowed for higher-risk sports.
Competitive tournaments of multiple games, meets, matches, or scrimmages requiring travel are not allowed at this time for any risk level of sports. The travel restriction for tournaments applies to those that require travel outside of the region or beyond contiguous counties. The purpose of this restriction is to avoid a tournament that would require participants to travel from one region of New York to another (e.g. Central New York to Long Island), from one state to another, or have an unnecessary overnight stay involved.
The Health Department was notified on October 17 of an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 and had traveled to another state to participate in a tournament. This individual is asymptomatic, but could have infected others before entering isolation. As a result, almost 100 people are now in quarantine.
“While I recognize the desire we all have to play sports and conduct normal activities, I want to remind coaches, athletes, and their families that sports have restrictions at this time due to COVID-19. Based on NYS guidance from July 6, 2020, competitive tournaments requiring travel are prohibited. Please be mindful of these restrictions and limit higher risk sports to individual or distanced group training and organized no or low-contact group training,” urged Frank Kruppa, Public Health Director.
For more information about higher-risk sports and a full list of these sports, see the Health Department website: https://tompkinscountyny.gov/health/movingforwardphases#sports
NYS reopening guidelines for sports and recreation can be found here: https://www.governor.ny.gov/sites/governor.ny.gov/files/atoms/files/SportsAndRecreationSummaryGuidance.pdf
To file a complaint related to reopening guidelines, see the Health Department website: https://tompkinscountyny.gov/health/factsheets/coronavirussocialdistance#complaint.
For local updates and information, check the TCHD website.
Individuals who have traveled to a state with significant community spread listed on the NYS Travel Advisory must quarantine for 14 days. See an up-to-date list of states on the NYS Travel Advisory webpage. For more information about how to quarantine, refer to the TCHD website.
Everyone can continue to take these steps to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community:
- Refrain from traveling to states listed in the New York Travel Advisory.
- Keep 6 feet distance between yourself and others when in public.
- Wear a mask at all times in public spaces, especially when 6 feet of distance cannot be maintained. Masks and face coverings must be worn by everyone over age two at all times in public places when 6 feet of distance cannot be maintained. Fines are enforceable for individuals who are in violation of these regulations. Businesses must deny entry to anyone who is not wearing a face covering.
- Non-essential gatherings are limited to 50 people for our region, but must comply with distancing and face covering guidance.
- Wash hands well and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid close and continued contact with other people not in your household.
- Cover coughs and sneezes.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
To file a complaint about a business or social gathering go to the TCHD website.
The Tompkins County Health Department is your partner for a healthy community. Find us online at TompkinsCountyNY.gov/health, and follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/TompkinsPublicHealth and on Twitter at @TompkinsHealth.
