Two-state shutdowns are just a precaution
THIS IS JUST A PRECAUTION
That’s the message which needs to be loud and clear to participants in New South Wales and Victoria following cancelled race meetings in both states.
Earlier today Harness Racing New South Wales stopped this afternoon’s program at Club Menangle, tonight’s Leeton card, tomorrow evening’s Bathurst card and Penrith’s Thursday fixture.
The governing body made the swift move after news someone who attended last Thursday’s Penrith meeting had been in contact with a person who had been confirmed to have contracted the COVID-19 virus.
In the hope of countering any possible spread of the virus HRNSW immediately notified everyone who had been in direct contact with that person, who was not a participant.
“We have advised everyone who attended the Penrith meeting last Thursday to closely monitor their health and seek immediate medical attention should they develop flu-like symptoms,” Dumesny said.
“We’re taking these steps as a precaution and in these testing times we are being vigilant to the well-being of industry participants, our staff and the wider community to ensure the safety of all.
“I stress these are precautionary measures by HRNSW as we are a responsible identity with a risk-aversion ethos.”
Declarations and acceptances for meetings beyond Thursday proceed as normal as HRNSW looks to resume racing by the end of the week.
“We’ll be ready to step straight back into racing if there’s a negative result to the test and we get the ‘okay’ to continue racing,” Dumesny said.
In response to the New South Wales situation Harness Racing Victoria made the decision to cancel tonight’s racing in Bendigo.
HRV chief executive Dayle Brown cited “contact tracing” as the reason for the 24-hour closure, with the term leaving some participants unsure of the meaning,
Similar to the six degrees of Kevin Bacon theory, contact tracing is working out whether any Victorians who travelled to New South Wales during the past week came into contact with an individual who came into contact with another individual who came into contact the infected person.
“Today Harness Racing New South Wales reported they had established a participant at the Penrith meeting held on Thursday, 19 March had been in contact with a person now confirmed to have tested positive for COVID-19,” Brown said.
“HRNSW has suspended racing in that state pending the outcome of its investigations, including contact tracing.
“HRV has taken the precautionary step to suspend tonight’s race meeting at Bendigo while we investigate the implications for any Victorian personnel who may have subsequently come into contact with at-risk individuals.
“Our position must always be to first protect the health and wellbeing of our participants and staff.
“We will advise further in due course.”
HRV is expected to provide an update to the industry in the morning.