Open AccessImplications of COVID-19 for resumption of sport in South Africa: A South African Sports Medicine Association (SASMA) position statement – Part 2
Author(s) -
Dimakatso Ramagole,
Dina Christina Janse van Rensburg,
Lervasen Pillay,
Jon Patricios,
Pierre L. Viviers,
Jon Patricios
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
south african journal of sports medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2078-516X
pISSN - 1015-5163
DOI - 10.17159/2078-516x/2020/v32i1a8986
Subject(s) - position statement , statement (logic) , covid-19 , sports medicine , position (finance) , association (psychology) , medicine , family medicine , virology , physical therapy , political science , psychology , pathology , law , business , outbreak , disease , infectious disease (medical specialty) , finance , psychotherapist
The lockdown regulations due to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) that broke out towards the end of 2019 and continued to spread throughout most countries in the world had a negative effect on the sporting community. The South African government eased the lockdown rules to Level 1 from 21 September 2020. In Part 2 of this Position Statement of the South African Sports Medicine Association (SASMA), the authors address the position regarding the safe return to sports for athletes who were infected by the virus. An update on clinical manifestations and multi-organ involvement, testing for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), prolonged positive real time polymerase chain reaction (RT- PCR) and the role of quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in informing return to sports, grading of disease severity, individualised management of infected athletes and graduated return to play guidelines (GRTP) is provided. The authors also share thoughts on athletes with disabilities, immunisation, the using of masks during exercise and utilising biologically safe environments (BSE). Finally the SASMA Guidelines for Safe RTP in Level 1 lockdown during SARS-Cov-2 are introduced.