COVID-19 Briefing and Recommendations

Geneva, 9 March 2020

The COVID-19 virus is affecting YMI activities in some of our Areas, especially in Asia Pacific, Europe and Korea. Travel for club meetings has been restricted and plans for charter ceremonies of new clubs have had to be postponed. There is some concern that inactivity may lead to stagnation and we should be alert to this.

As of today, the following actions have been taken:

• The 84th Hawaii Regional Convention scheduled in Las Vegas, USA, 24-26 April, 2020 is postponed until 26-28 June, 2020 and relocated to Honolulu.
• Extension activities scheduled in West Africa for April are postponed indefinitely.
• Non-essential travel for our staff, IEOs and other internal stakeholders, is restricted.

At the moment, no other planned meetings are at risk of being cancelled or postponed. We will update this as needed.

As it seems likely that the COVID-19 virus will spread into all parts of the world and become a challenge to all of us, there are a range of precautions that may be taken by YMI club members. Currently, as no vaccine is available to prevent the disease, the best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus, including:

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Stay home when you are sick
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a bent elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe
• Face masks should be used by people who show symptoms of the virus to help prevent the spread of the disease to others. Masks are crucial for health workers and people who are taking care of someone in close settings
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, before eating and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• If the virus is prevalent in your location, it is better that club meetings and other YMI events be put on hold until the virus runs its course
• Refrain from shaking hands with friends for now, maybe giving a pat on the back instead
• If you have visited a country where the virus is widespread, it is recommended that on returning to your country, you should stay home and monitor your health for 14 days
• Travellers who feel sick with fever or cough or difficulty breathing should seek medical advice. Call ahead before you go to a doctor’s office or emergency room.

These recommendations have been sourced from the Centre for Disease Control and are easily found on other websites. Thank you for doing your best to keep yourself, your family, your fellow club members and your communities as safe as possible.

Letter to club members from IP Jennifer Jones:

More information:

• World Health Organization – information and guidance regarding the current outbreak of coronavirus disease
• World YMCA – information and recommendations to protect staff, board members and other stakeholders