Thanks for all of your service to our Millbrae Lions Baseball Program. Now is a good time to reach out with some guidance on how to manage any potential COVID-19 exposures or cases. In general, guidance has continually changed throughout the course of this pandemic. As such, it is always a good idea to check the CDC website for the most up-to-date guidelines. As of April 2022, here is what the CDC recommends for any close contacts or positive cases.

POSITIVE CASE:

If a member of your team (player or coach) tests positive, the entire team is considered a close contact (see close contact guidance for the rest of the team; this first section explains how to manage the infected staff member or player). It is strongly recommended that a head coach reach out to the Millbrae Lions Baseball Board for guidance on how to manage this situation. To briefly review, day 0 is considered the day of first symptoms or the day of the first positive test. As of April 2022, it is recommended that the infected person isolate from the team. Duration of isolation is determined by severity of illness. If fevers resolve without the use of Tylenol or other fever-reducing medication and symptoms are generally improved, then isolation can end after 5 full days from the onset of the illness or first positive test result. If the individual experienced more severe symptoms or has a weakened immune system, then isolation should last a full 10 days. The individual should continue wearing a mask for 10 days irrespective of when they come out of isolation. And, they should refrain from travel for 10 days as well.

CLOSE CONTACTS:

Day 0 is considered the day the person was exposed to the positive case. For COVID-19 vaccinated persons, there is no need to quarantine unless symptoms develop. As such, teams can continue to play games and practice. The close contacts should wear masks at all practices and games for 10 days after the close contact occurrence. All close contacts should get a COVID-19 test at least 5 days after the close contact to ensure they have not been infected. Because infection can develop up through 10 days after being exposed, it is important to continue to take precautions (wearing masks) until 10 days after the close contact occurred. For unvaccinated persons, they should quarantine for at least 5 days after the close contact (i.e., they should not attend practices or games) and get tested prior to ending their quarantine. If at any point symptoms of COVID-19 develop, then a repeat test should be performed. If any additional persons develop symptoms, this should be reported to the head coach and then to the Baseball Board for potential Outbreak Management.

OUTBREAK DEFINITION AND MANAGEMENT:

During the pandemic, we have not experienced outbreaks related to on-field transmission of COVID-19. This is likely because of the natural physical distancing and good outdoor ventilation provided by the sport of baseball as well as our protocols. However, if within any 10-day period two or more team members that do not share a household test positive for COVID-19, then this may be attributed to transmission within the team. If this occurs, a head coach is required to report this to the Millbrae Baseball Board. To end any potential transmission, a team would stop all baseball activities for 10-days from the last positive case and should follow all other CDC recommendations. Teams may resume baseball activities after 10-days if no additional positive cases develop. Any new cases reset the 10-day shut down clock.

It is recommended that a head coach or baseball board member send communication to the entire team if there is a positive case, close contact, or outbreak. The communication should detail the protocols above as they pertain to the team. For questions regarding this guidance or any other COVID-19 related issues, please reach out to board member Gabriel Ortiz at gabriel.m.ortiz@gmail.com.

Best Regards,

Millbrae Lions Baseball