Respiratory Infection Prevention Strategies for Scholastic Team Chess Championships
03.05.20 Medical doctors Elisabeth Fowlie Mock and Mark Parker, in conjunction with the Maine Chess Association and after careful consultation with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) resources, specialty guidelines, and Maine based experts, have issued a summary of enhanced respiratory infection prevention strategies for use at the Scholastic Team Chess Championships to take place at the University of Maine Orono on Saturday, March 7, 2020.
Thanks to Elisabeth Fowlie Mock, MD and Mark Parker, MD for contributing to this report.
Maine Chess Association State Scholastic Team Competition
University of Maine Orono March 7, 2020
Summary of Enhanced Respiratory Infection Prevention Strategies
1. Players, coaches or spectators who have a fever or acute respiratory symptoms (frequent sneezing, runny nose, frequent cough) are requested to stay home. Full refunds will be issued.
2. Players, coaches or spectators with a frequent cough will be asked to wear a surgical mask to limit spread of germs. [Surgical masks are not thought to be effective prevention strategies for those without active illness.] Those who decline may be asked to leave the tournament without a refund.
3. Players will be reminded to cover their isolated cough or sneeze with the interior of their elbow or a disposable tissue, then use hand sanitizer. Repeated coughing--see #2. The use of hand sanitizer should not appreciably affect a player's time during a match. Clocks remain running for any trip to the restroom during a game.
4. No one should EVER share a beverage from the same container, even with straws (unless it is poured into separate cups before it is consumed)! Cut food with utensils before eating and sharing.
5. Players should maintain their own pencil and other personal belongings in their possession or at designated storage sites.
6. All players are required to use hand sanitizer immediately before and after each game (including skittles practices). If parents have concerns about allergies, they should provide a personal supply for their child. If players do not use sanitizer, they will be directed to the restroom to wash their hands with soap and water.
7. Players in grades 6 and up will be instructed to wipe down all game pieces, clocks, pencils, etc. with a disinfectant wipe prior to each game, then reapply hand sanitizer. Coach/adult volunteers will clean pieces in the younger rooms prior to rounds.
8. The traditional handshakes at the beginning and end of games will be replaced by any non-contact gesture/verbal acknowledgement of the players' choosing. Communicate clearly on any game ending "handshakes." Children who automatically shake hands out of habit will be prompted by proctors to reapply hand sanitizer.
9. Coach/adult volunteers will wipe down other surfaces in game rooms and ancillary areas (such as surfaces, door knobs, switches, etc.) at the end of each round at a minimum.
10. "The majority of respiratory illnesses are not COVID-19." (from CDC website) These common sense precautions will decrease spread of all respiratory illnesses!
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Respectfully submitted after careful consultation with the CDC resources, specialty guidelines and Maine based experts (revised 3/5/2020).
*Elisabeth Fowlie Mock, MD, MPH, Board Certified in Family and Addiction Medicine (& chess mom)
*Mark Parker, MD, Vice President Quality & Safety, ME Medical Center (& chess dad)
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