The training of national and student athletes alike will be conditionally allowed to resume.
But a strict 10-point guideline issued by the Philippine Sports Commission will have to be followed for this to happen.
The safety and health protocols which the PSC has set are aimed to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus infection to concerned athletes and coaches.
PSC chairman William Ramirez said this yesterday during a presentation on Zoom on the sports body’s accomplishments for the year and its plans and programs in 2021.
And, if the instructions laid down by the PSC are not complied with, sporting activities of certain sports disciplines will not be allowed to take place.
“Sa pananaw ng PSC, kapag isa lang ang na-infect, isasara namin sila,” said Ramirez.
Tegular testing will have be done, in agreement with the local public health authorities.
“If they are not able to observe, they will not be allowed,” added Ramirez.
Contacts of confirmed positive cases must be done by all sports bodies that are considering to return to training. And before any gathering, two swab tests will have to be performed.
Ramirez said the protocols that they have composed is even stricter than the bubble of the Philippine Basketball Association when the league held the PBA Philippine Cup in Pampanga.
“Napaka-strikto ng protocol, mas strikto pa nga sa PBA ito,” added Ramirez, who himself had to undergo home quarantine last month, after one of his drivers tested positive for COVID-19.
Ramirez added that for asymptomatic cases, an immediate test and repeat test and antibody test will be done on the individual.
If the athlete has symptoms, but is negative, there should be repeat tests.
The PSC, in coordination with the Department of Health and the Commission on Higher Education consulted with the NSAs and the schools in the resumption of training in amateur sports since October.
For now, some national athletes are into virtual training, while others have gone to the provinces or other countries to do their own set of workouts to prepare national and international meets.
