Almaden Little League COVID Protocols for Spring 2021 Season

Dated: March 3, 2021

Note: These protocols are guidelines and are subject to change based on mandates by the CDC, California Department of Health, Santa Clara County Public Health Department or any other such agency. This document covers “practice only” and is subject to change if and when games are permitted.

We strongly encourage players and coaches to limit participation to one team and refrain from participating with more than one team over the same period of time.

Record Keeping

Almaden Little League (A.L.L.) shall maintain records of personnel and participants assigned to each group, any changes to those assignments, and the dates of such changes.

Teams shall maintain daily attendance records for personnel and participants.

Teams shall track and document incidents of possible exposure.

All records required to be maintained by this Directive shall be kept for a minimum of 1 month to allow the Santa Clara County Public Health Department to conduct case investigation and contact tracing in the event that a COVID-19 case or close contact is identified in connection with the Team.

Face Coverings

All Adult personnel shall wear a face covering at all times while at the field. If any personnel are unable to wear a face covering for medical reasons, they shall not be allowed to have direct contact with children/youth

All adults picking up or dropping off children/youth must wear face coverings.

Face coverings shall not be required for (1) children under 2 years of age; (2) anyone who has trouble breathing or is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the covering without assistance; (3) children/youth with special needs who are unable to tolerate a face covering; (4) any other individuals who a healthcare professional has advised should not wear a face covering because they have a medical condition that would make wearing a face covering dangerous; (5) anyone during the time that they are eating, drinking, or addressing another biological need that requires the removal of a face covering; (6) communication by or with someone who is hearing impaired; (7) when children/youth are actively exercising outdoors provided that they remain at least six feet distance from others at all times; and (8) when engaged in activities during which wearing a face covering may pose a danger. In addition, children/youth may remove their face covering for a short period of time if they are having trouble wearing their face covering.

Physical Distancing

Parents or other individuals dropping off or picking up older players by car are encouraged to remain in their vehicles to the extent possible. If in-person drop off or pickup is necessary, only a single individual should drop off or pick up the player. 

Within their teams we strongly encourage the following:

Players should maintain at least six feet of distance from other children/youth at all times, and personnel shall maintain at least six feet of distance from children/youth at all times to the extent possible.

A.L.L. shall assign stable areas for players, to place their baseball gear, if practicable and to the extent feasible, to ensure that close contacts within stable teams are minimized and easily identifiable.

A.L.L. shall hold meetings/trainings for management staff remotely if feasible. If meetings/training for management staff must occur in-person, hold meetings/trainings outdoors, if feasible, and ensure all participants are always at least six feet apart. 

Limitations on Visitors and Special Events:

A.L.L. shall only allow necessary visitors and limit the number of players who come into contact with them.

Visitors must wash their hands or use hand sanitizer upon arrival and wear a face covering for the entire duration of the time that they are present on the field.

A.L.L. may not host special events (ie. Games) with more than one stable group participating at a time or with any attendees who are not part of the group (e.g., family members or friends). Special events include, but are not limited to, performances, recitals, parades, and parties.

Hygiene, Cleaning, and Other Measures

Teams shall minimize Manager and players contact with high-touch surfaces (e.g., propping open gates) to the extent feasible.

At least daily, and more frequently if feasible, clean and disinfect frequently touched hard surfaces (e.g. entrance gates, fencing and shared objects (balls & bats) pursuant to CDC guidance. See:

A.L.L. shall teach and reinforce proper handwashing technique; avoiding contact with one’s eyes, nose, and mouth; and covering coughs and sneezes.

A.L.L./Teams shall make available adequate supplies to support healthy hygiene behaviors, including face coverings, and hand sanitizer (with at least 60 percent ethyl alcohol) for Manager/Coach and players.

Team Managers shall ensure players wash their hands or use hand sanitizer upon arrival, after using the restroom, after coughing or sneezing. These routines should be conducted with appropriate distancing between players.

A.L.L. shall serve food individually plated or bagged.

Health Screenings

A.L.L. shall require daily COVID-19 symptom screening for all Manager/Coach and players, on-site and/or prior to arrival. Figure 1, below, provides a recommended health screening.

A.L.L. shall also post signs at all entrances instructing players, Managers/Coaches, and all others not to enter the facility if they have any COVID-19 symptoms. COVID-19 symptoms include fever, chills, cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, recent loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. 

Any players or Management staff exhibiting symptoms should immediately be required to wear a face covering (if not wearing one already) and wait in an isolation area until they can be transported home or to a healthcare facility, as soon as practicable. For serious illness, call 9-1-1 without delay.

COVID-19 Testing, Reporting, and Response

Symptomatic Individuals (Not Close Contacts to a Case)

A.L.L. shall require players and management staff to get tested as soon as possible after they develop one or more COVID-19 symptoms.

Return to Team:

Individuals who test negative for COVID-19 and are not close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases should remain at home until at least 24 hours after resolution of fever (if any) and improvement in other symptoms.

Documentation of the negative test result must be provided to the Program’s administrator. In lieu of a negative test result, Teams may allow symptomatic players and management staff who are not close contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case to return to play with a medical note by a physician that provides alternative explanation for symptoms and reason for not ordering COVID-19 testing.

Close Contacts of a Confirmed COVID-19 Case

A close contact is defined as someone who was within six feet of a person infected with COVID-19 for at least 15 minutes at any time beginning two days before the infected person had symptoms or tested positive. Close contacts include people who had 15 minutes of continuous contact with the infected person, as well as people who had repeated short-duration interactions with the infected person.

All players and management staff who had close contact with a COVID-19 positive person OR who are members of a stable group with the COVID-19 positive person must be sent home and instructed to quarantine at home for at least 14 days after their last exposure to the positive case.

For stable groups in which (a) all activities are conducted outdoors and (b) all individuals wear face coverings and are distanced 6 feet apart or more at all times, A.L.L. may provide quarantine instructions only to those individuals who meet the definition of a close contact to the case, rather than the entire cohort.

For confirmed COVID-19 cases who are unable to isolate from other household members, household close contacts must isolate until 14 days after the case completes their isolation period. This may be 24 days or more.

Testing: A close contact without symptoms should get tested around day 7 of their quarantine period. A close contact who has or who develops symptoms should be tested immediately. If the test is done before 7 days, then they should get tested again towards the end of their 14 day quarantine period. If the close contact tests positive prior to the completion of their quarantine period, they must follow the requirements for positive cases below.

Return to A.L.L.:

A close contact must remain in quarantine for 14 days from their last exposure to the COVID-19 case, regardless of whether they receive a negative test result.

A close contact who quarantines for 14 days after their last exposure to the COVID-19 case is not required to provide a medical note or negative test result to return to the team.

Individuals Who Test Positive for COVID-19 (Confirmed COVID-19 Cases)

A.L.L. shall require parents/guardians and personnel to immediately report to A.L.L. administration if a Team player or member of management staff test positive for COVID-19 or if one of their household members or non-household close contacts test positive for COVID-19.

Any A.L.L. player or Manager/Coach who learns they have tested positive for COVID-19 while at practice should be required to immediately go home or wait in an isolation area until they can be transported home or to a healthcare facility, as soon as practicable.

A.L.L. administrators must notify the County of Santa Clara Public Health Department within 4 hours of learning of any positive COVID-19 case via the Education Reporting Portal at sccgov.org/childcare.

Areas used by any COVID-19 positive person during their infectious period must be immediately closed off. (The infectious period is defined as 48 hours prior to onset of symptoms until 10 days after symptom onset, or if asymptomatic, from 48 hours before the date on which the positive test was collected until 10 days after.)  Such areas may not be reopened until they have been ventilated, cleaned and disinfected. To reduce risk of exposure, ventilate area and/or wait 24 hours before you clean and disinfect. If it is not possible to wait 24 hours, wait as long as practicable. Ensure a safe and correct application of disinfectants using personal protective equipment and ventilation.

A.L.L. administrators must notify affected families and personnel of any positive COVID-19 case in the team while maintaining confidentiality as required by state and federal laws.

A.L.L. must identify and notify all close contacts to a confirmed COVID-19 case within the league. All players and management staff who had close contact with a COVID-19 positive person OR who are members of a stable group with the COVID-19 positive person must be sent home and instructed to quarantine at home for at least 14 days after their last exposure to the positive case. A.L.L. shall handle close contacts in accordance with Section 10.b above.

Return to A.L.L.:

Symptomatic individuals who test positive for COVID-19 may return if it has been at least 10 days since their symptom onset AND at least 24 hours have passed since their last fever without the use of fever-reducing medications AND their other symptoms have improved.

Asymptomatic individuals who test positive for COVID-19 may return 10 days after their positive test result was collected.

Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and have completed their isolation, as set forth above, shall not be required to provide a medical note or a negative test prior to returning to their team.

No actions need to be taken for persons who have not had close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, and instead have had close contact with a person who was in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case.

A.L.L. shall follow the steps outlined in Table 1 in response to confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases and close contacts and the steps outlined in Table 2 in response to negative test results from suspected COVID-19 cases and close contacts.

Figure 1. Recommended Health Screening for Players and Staff

Ask these questions. A person who answers “Yes” to any one of these questions must not be allowed to participate

Within the last 10 days have you been diagnosed with COVID-19 or had a test confirming you have the virus?

Within the past 14 days, have you had close contact with someone who has been in isolation for COVID-19 or had a test confirming they have the virus? Close contact is less than 6 feet for 15 minutes or more.

Have you had any one or more of these symptoms today or within the past 3 days? 

Fever or chills

Cough

Shortness of breath/trouble breathing

Loss of taste or smell

Have you had any one or more of these symptoms today or within the past 3 days and that are new or not explained by another reason?

Fatigue

Muscle or body Aches

Headache

Sore Throat

Nausea, vomiting