USA Swimming has asked all swimmers and others who get sick and think they might have been infected by coronavirus COVID-19, to stay home and avoid mixing with team members.
The federation issued an update to its sweet to members as the global health emergency starts to bite in the United States, where 12 people out of the 200-plus known infections so far have died. USA Swimming directs its members to the direction of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). The USA update:
Dear Members,
As we continue to monitor developments of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we would like to remind you of important information resources and suggested safety measures everyone can follow.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to stress general precautions to prevent the spread of communicable diseases:
- wash your hands often;
- cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze;
- avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;
- clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe;
- get a flu shot to protect yourself and others from the flu, which has similar symptoms to COVID-19;
- stay home when you are sick, and away from the pool and from fellow team members.
USA Swimming will work with, and follow, all guidance and protocols issued by the CDC, state and local public health departments.
Both the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) have published recommendations/guidelines for gatherings and healthy travel. For members planning to host or attend sanctioned events, we encourage you to request updates directly from event organizers, who should be actively communicating with local health professionals.
We strongly encourage everyone to seek further information using the CDC and the WHO websites:
- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/summary.html#situation-in-us
- https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public
Questions or personal concerns regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) should be directed to your local healthcare provider.
This is a dynamic situation and we will provide additional information as necessary for our membership.
Thank you for taking every precaution to protect yourself and others. Tim Hinchey III, USA Swimming President & CEO
Mexico’s WADA-Accredited Lab Shuts Down
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) announced today that the Laboratorio Nacional de Prevencion y Control del Dopaje-CONADE – the WADA-accredited Laboratory in Mexico City, Mexico (the Laboratory) – has ceased operations; and therefore, is no longer conducting anti-doping analyses as a WADA-accredited Laboratory. In a statement, WADA noted:
While the Laboratory ceased its operations effective 15 November 2019, this official WADA announcement follows weeks of sustained efforts by the Agency to inform the Mexican Public Authorities of the benefits of maintaining an accredited Laboratory in Mexico.
WADA is satisfied that, in accordance with the International Standard for Laboratories (ISL), the Laboratory took all necessary measures to notify its clients of its decision to cease operations and assist all relevant Testing Authorities with the transfer of samples, where required, to another WADA-accredited Laboratory. Throughout, WADA monitored the measures taken by the Laboratory in regard to the above ISL requirements in order to ensure continued high-quality sample analysis and storage of samples, and to preserve athletes’ confidence in this process and the wider anti-doping system.
In accordance with the ISL, WADA is responsible for accrediting and re-accrediting anti-doping Laboratories, thereby ensuring that they maintain the highest quality standards. This monitoring process is conducted in compliance with ISO 17025 Standard assessment and in conjunction with independent national accreditation bodies that are full members of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC).
