Jersey Reds have moved quickly to take necessary action following confirmation that a player with the Island’s professional rugby club had tested positive for coronavirus.
Using strict protocols that have been in place since Reds players reported for training in early August, the club took immediate action after the positive test result on Friday afternoon.
A player who had travelled off-Island during the squad’s recent week off, visiting an area ranked as green on the Government of Jersey’s risk rating system, received news of a positive result for his second test, having recorded a negative result five days earlier to his arrival test.
Harvey Biljon, Director of Rugby, said there were clear measures in place for such a situation.
“All our training is recorded so that we have a record of which members of players have been in close contact, and we were quickly able to identify those concerned, any other staff members affected and those who spent time with the affected player outside the club,” he said.
Biljon said that as a result of the club’s contact tracing, a group of colleagues had been directed to self-isolate and would be undergoing tests.
“This work took place immediately and we weren’t taking any chances,” he said. “We were also in touch with health officials from the Government of Jersey and have informed the Rugby Football Union.”
The Reds’ protocol, which also includes daily temperature and welbeing checks for all staff, recording of all training activity and enhanced hygiene measures, was established during July in collaboration with the Government of Jersey and the RFU before being introduced on 3 August when the squad began training.
“Although we didn’t want to get this news, it is something that we’ve been prepared for since the start of August, and this meant we knew exactly what to do,” Biljon added.
The club will continue to monitor all staff in order to ensure that the maximum possible levels of mitigation relating to the risks of Covid-19 remain in place.
