The Victorian Government released its roadmap to reopening and delivering the National Plan today, providing an outline on the easing of restrictions in the coming weeks and months.
Baseball Victoria is currently working through what this reopening roadmap means for the start of the 2021/22 Victorian Summer Baseball League season. The plan outlines several key milestones with the easing of restrictions on community sport dependent on when Victoria reaches its 70 and 80 percent fully vaccinated targets.
Baseball Victoria is seeking further clarification to confirm the roadmap restrictions and how they will apply to a return to training and competition for grassroots baseball. We are expecting further clarity following a community sport update from Sport and Recreation Victoria scheduled for Tuesday 21 September 2021. These clarifications will guide updates to the Baseball Victoria Return to Play COVIDSafe Plan, and we will provide updates to VSBL clubs and members accordingly, including planned season start dates as we draw closer.
In addition to the roadmap announcements, the Chief Health Officer declared the City of Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast, and Mitchell Shire will enter a seven-day lockdown commencing at 11:59pm on Sunday 19 September, with the same restrictions as metropolitan Melbourne and the City of Ballarat, excluding the curfew. This means the previously announced return to training for Geelong Baycats and Mitchell Majors VSBL clubs will cease for the duration of the lockdown, set to last for seven days through 11:59pm on Sunday 26 September.
“It’s great to see Victoria’s Roadmap as we plan for the easing of restrictions to support our return to community sport,” Baseball Victoria Interim CEO Gemma Scales said. “We acknowledge the challenges of continued lockdown but we hope our baseballers are looking forward to the summer season as open up and get back on the diamond safely.”
As a reminder, the lockdown restrictions for metropolitan Melbourne and parts of regional Victoria are:
- Six reasons to leave home:
- shopping for necessary goods and services (within 10km radius of home unless not available within)
- four hours of exercise (within 10km radius of home unless not available within, and with only one other person)
- caregiving/compassionate/medical reasons
- authorised work or permitted education – with valid permit only
- getting the coronavirus vaccine
- outdoor social interaction (picnic, walk, or other outdoor activity) with another person not from your household. Up to five adults (plus dependents) from two households may gather outdoors if all adults are fully vaccinated.
- No public or private gatherings other than for permitted outdoor social interaction
- Two people may train outdoors with a personal trainer
- No community sport
- Masks must be worn both indoors and outdoors unless an exemption applies
- Daily curfew from 9pm – 5am (metropolitan Melbourne only)
Full details on the latest Victorian Government announcements are available HERE.
Click HERE for information on the lockdown of Greater Geelong, the Surf Coast, and Mitchell Shire.
COVID-19 vaccines are currently available for all Victorians aged 12 years and over. Getting vaccinated helps protect you from getting sick with COVID-19. The vaccines being used in Australia are safe, free, and very effective at preventing serious illness and loss of life from COVID-19.
Click HERE to book your vaccine appointment.
It remains very important that Victorians monitor for symptoms, get tested, and get vaccinated when eligible.
To stop the spread, everyone should check this list of exposure sites and follow these instructions:
- Anyone who has visited a Tier 1 exposure site during the times listed must immediately isolate, get a coronavirus (COVID-19) test, and quarantine for 14 days from the date of exposure.
- Anyone who has visited a Tier 2 exposure site during times listed should urgently get a test and isolate until they receive a negative result.
- Anyone who has visited a Tier 3 exposure site during times listed should monitor for symptoms - If symptoms develop, immediately get tested and isolate until you receive a negative result.
If you have been to an exposure site, are a close contact of a confirmed case, or exhibit any symptoms of COVID-19 – such as fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, chills or sweats, or change in sense of smell or taste – get a test immediately. Find out where to get tested HERE.
While Victoria works to get more people vaccinated, you can stay safe by washing your hands regularly, wearing a face mask, coughing and sneezing into your elbow, and keeping at least 1.5 metres from others. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, no matter how mild, you must get tested and stay home.
Click HERE to view our frequently asked questions and click HERE to view all COVID resources.
We encourage our members to stay connected and prioritise their mental health. Please view mental health resources on our website HERE, including information from Beyond Blue, Headspace, Kids Helpline, Lifeline and R U OK?
To view more resources from the Victorian Government, click HERE.