Author: Dan Elko

Northeast Ohio Crappie Club will follow provided guidelines set forth by States regarding the Stay Safe Ohio order signed April 30 by Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, M.D., MPH, to lift some of the mandatory requirements needed to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The following items will be followed in accordance of the COVID-19 State Rules and Division Natural Resource Guidelines.

1. Comply with state regulations on facial coverings. Each NEOCC Member will be provided a face mask / gloves that will help minimize COVID-19 Risk.
   
   
2. Check-In process will consist with Trucks / Boats driving up and stopping for a live-well check-in where only 1-2 members of the Advisory committee will be allowed to check each boat and apply a ribbon to the trolling motor. At NO time, will the Anglers from the truck be allowed to come out and great the Advisory Member completing his task. Once the boat is checked the driver will head to the ramps and place the boat in the water and wait until the official start time. Members will have gloves and mask on always during the check-in process.
   
   
3. Weigh-in process will take place with the driver and the angler driving up to the weigh-in area and handing off their fish into a basket of net while following 6ft social distancing. Once the fish are giving to the director the truck and the angler will drive away and park their vehicle and observe the safe distancing guidelines procedure.
   
   
4. Face Mask and gloves will be mandatory while check in and weigh-in takes place. 6. Comply with social distancing requirements of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Ohio Department of Health, including, when possible.
   
   
5. All visitors, and family members will wear face coverings during weigh-in times for health and safety reasons while adhering to the social distancing guidelines.
   
   
6. Northeast Ohio Crappie Club will enforce 6-foot distances with signage, tape, or other means to allow for adequate social distancing between Anglers. This also applies to visitors.
   
   
7. No more than a group of 10 Anglers can be in one contained area following 6 foot desisting rules. No groups of more than 10 people at any given time my gather. So, during the weigh-in folks will need to drop off their catch one at a time and leave the area completely.
   
   

8. Northeast Ohio Crappie Club Will Provide hand sanitizer and sanitizing products readily available for Anglers and any visitors.
   
   
9. Northeast Ohio Crappie Club will post online on its Website so each member will be educated on Policy and procedures.
   
   
10. If an Angler is sick, NEOCC is mandating stay home until they are free of fever or symptoms (without the use of medication) for at least 72 hours (three full days) AND symptoms have improved for at least 72 hours AND at least seven days have passed since symptoms first began. Do not require a healthcare provider’s note to validate the illness or return to fishing as a club member.
    
    
11. Encouraging ALL NEOCC members to do a self-assessment each day to check if they have any COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, or shortness of breath). Any COVID-19 symptoms (fever, cough, or shortness of breath).

• Anglers / Visitors with HIGH risk Symptoms should not take part in such fishing tournaments that could cause risk to them or their families.
• NEOCC Will Reinforce key messages — stay home when sick, use cough and sneeze etiquette, and practice hand hygiene — to all Anglers, provide protection supplies such as hand sanitizer, tissues, and no-touch disposal receptacles for use by Anglers.
• NEOCC will perform enhanced environmental cleaning of commonly touched surfaces, such as workstations, countertops, railings. Use the cleaning agents that are usually used in these areas and follow the directions on the label. Provide sanitizing disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces can be wiped down by directors before each use.  CDC’s Interim Guidance https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/guidance-business-response.html.
• COVID-19 Information for Businesses: https://www.tpchd.org/healthy-people/diseases/covid-19-information-for- businesses.