03/16/2020
To all of our Members;
Following the advice of the CDC, The World Health Organization and the Governor of Washington due to the CoVid-19 virus pandemic, Puget Sound Amateur Icesports Association will suspend all programming and Tacoma Twin Rinks will be closed for business the next two weeks or until further notice (effective Monday 03/16/20).
This decision has been made with the health of our participants and the community in mind and we will begin operations when we are advised it is in the best interested of our participants.
Please stay tuned to this post and/or our Facebook pages for the latest information and further updates.
We appreciate your continued patronage and wish everyone to be safe during this time of uncertainty.
We will be closed for all events until further notice.
We will continue to monitor State, local and CDC health guidelines. Please continue to check our calendar regularly to stay up-to-date with our events. Events are changing by the hour. Thank you for your patience during this time
- As you all have been notified, USA Hockey has decided to cancel all National Tournaments. The following is advice we have received from USA Hockey. As a facility, Tacoma Twin Rinks began the staff recommendations as soon as the events in King county began in February because our number one concern is the safety of the members of our PS Icesports community and our staff. We are committed to being diligent.
- We are asking everyone to get the word out to our participants and ask them to follow the recommendations for the participants.
- Finally, the strongest advice from the Chief Medical Officer of USA Hockey is to closely monitor local and state health department direction because it is important to manage this locally as each locale will be in different stages of this constantly changing situation. He also suggested that if you travel to be sure to understand and monitor the recommendations of the health department where you are going.
At Tacoma Twin Rinks we are using the USA Hockey Ice Rink Association Guidelines stated for the Covid-19 Bulletin, March 11,2020
- RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS FOR STAFF
- Increased signage outlining advisable precautions (e.g., hand-washing)
- Adding alcohol-based hand sanitizer stations throughout the facility
- Ensuring soap is stocked in restrooms
- Cleaning high traffic areas of the building with disinfectant throughout events (and ideally several times per day) including concession areas, door handles, elevator buttons, handrails, vending machines, arcade games, and rest rooms
- Implementing more regular cleaning procedures with disinfectant for areas such as players’ and officials’ locker rooms, and training rooms.
- Shared PPE, like safety glasses, cut resistant gloves, face shields, etc. should be disinfected before and after use
- POS touchscreens should be regularly disinfected and staff should minimize sharing these
- IR steering wheels and operational controls, hand tools, etc. should be disinfected after personnel completes shifts
- Always wear disposable gloves while cleaning
- Don’t eat or drink anything while performing cleaning tasks2. RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS
- Practice frequent and meticulous hand-washing with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
- Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and/or sneezing with a tissue or flexed elbow
- Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms• Quarantine anyone who is sick (players, coaches, parents, roommates)
- Ensure safe food sources; thoroughly cook meat and eggs
- Handshake lines after games should include fist bumps with gloves on OR eliminate handshake line and consider a stick tap or clap to the other team as a sign of sportsmanship.
- Use individual water bottles; do not share them
- Towels should not be shared in any way.
- Stay informed. Through trusted sources like the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department: www.tpchd.org/coronavirus, the CDC https://www.cdc.govand Washington State Health https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus
-Limits on large gatherings- On Wednesday, March 11, Gov. Inslee imposed restrictions on large gatherings in Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties through March 31 to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Please cancel gatherings of 250 or more people for social, spiritual and recreational activities.
How can I protect myself and my family?
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- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with sick people. Use a tissue or your elbow to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.
- Throw used tissues in the trash and wash your hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Stay home and away from others when you’re sick.
- Cold and flu are out there, too. So far this season, flu has made hundreds of Pierce County people sick and at least a dozen have died. Vaccine is your best protection against the flu. It’s not too late to get your flu shot.
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As we move forward, remind all your participants that we need to work together to keep our environment safe for our participants
- Since our gatherings are below 250 we are within the state guidelines. However, please be sure to vacate the building promptly after practice to allow for minimal gathering between groups
- If at all possible, shower at home
- No sharing of water bottles
- Wash hands regularly
- If you are sick, please self quarantine for 14 days
- If you or a family member are in the high risk category, please consider not attending practices
- Even though the facility is open under these guidelines, make sure we respect the ability and right for families to make the decisions that are best for them
- Be flexible – As we monitor hourly events and decisions in our community by the public health advisors, we will be reacting and changing programing with the safety of our participants and staff as our first priority.
Thank you,
Donna Kaufman
