BUFFALO, N.Y. — Erie County announced on Saturday announced new guidance that applies to non-pro, non-collegiate sports teams in tournaments that are coming here from outside the Western New York or Finger Lakes regions.
The county says teams coming to the region "are required to have a negative diagnostic PCR COVID-19 test collected within 72 hours of the tournament. For teams within the WNY or Finger Lakes regions, there are no diagnostic testing requirements," according to a statement, when the county apologized for the omission on Friday of information linked to tournament play.
The facility that hosts a tournament will be responsible for making sure that visiting teams comply with the Erie County Department of Health requirements. Any team or group with a positive test cannot compete in the event.
The facilities must also complete a Large Gathering Event Notification Form with the health department at least five days in advance of the event, where the venue's capacity cannot exceed 50 percent.
If a positive test does come up, the individual and the team will be required to take action and contact health departments for further instruction.
These new Erie County guidelines will take effect Friday.
The county defined a tournament as having "four or more teams playing multiple games or competitions at the same facility."
The Western New York region includes Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, and Allegany counties.
The Finger Lakes region includes Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Ontario, Orleans, Seneca, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties.
"This guidance does not apply to tournaments where all participating teams are from either the WNY or Finger Lakes regions," Erie County said in a statement Saturday.