Public Health Grey Bruce is recommending local hockey teams not play games against, or practice with teams from regions that are in the Province’s COVID-19 red zones or grey zones.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra is recommending Grey Bruce teams only play other teams within the region. Grey Bruce is in a Yellow zone.
The Health Unit says it has recently investigated cases of COVID-19 associated with hockey teams.
Arra says, in order to ensure a safe return to hockey, the Ontario Hockey Federation and the Province have provided guidance to prevent COVID-19 transmission.
Arra says, there are no current outbreaks (evidence of transmission from person to person), within hockey teams in Grey Bruce.
He notes, facilities should not be providing rentals to teams from those areas that prohibit team sports.
Arra says people should be mindful of the risk of participating in team sports, and should not socialize with the team before and after training or the game.
He says, “Across Canada, sports-associated transmission of COVID-19 has occurred from improper use of locker rooms, participants carpooling and socializing outside of their household, belonging to more than one team, improper travelling, and not wearing masks.”
Arra adds, “It is extremely important that everyone abide by standard COVID-19 precautions and the rules for hockey, given that if transmission occurs within the team, it is likely that transmission will continue within households and workplaces as other jurisdictions have seen.”
Public Health has the following additional recommendations for hockey:
Stay home if you have symptoms.
If you get tested, and your symptoms have resolved, you must isolate until you received your results
Limit carpooling and socializing to those within your household
Wear a mask or face covering in a manner that covers your mouth and nose when in an indoor area (e.g., entering/exiting facility, while coaching, as a spectator, etc.).
Co-ordinate hockey teams to create a league that contains no more than 50 players.
The league may only play and practice with members of the same league. A hockey association cannot expand leagues/bubbles/cohorts or join another league for additional play or practice if the resultant group has more than 50 players
Do not coach or play in more than one league
Maintain a two-metre physical distance (e.g., in the change rooms, spectator stands, players benches)
Limit time spend in change rooms. Use change rooms for changing only. Do not use change rooms for socializing, sharing food or beverages, etc.
Avoid physical contact during play
Clean and disinfect your equipment regularly. Do not share sports gear with other people
Practice frequent hand hygiene by using an alcohol-based hand rub or washing your hands with soap and water
If possible, play outside rather than indoors. Consult your municipality for outdoor rink protocols
Meanwhile, Public Health recommends limiting travel for only essential reasons, such as work, school or for medical reasons. Recreational, non-medical, social or leisure related reasons for travel would not be considered essential and are discouraged as per the provincial direction. For more information see COVID-19 and Considerations for Travel (publichealthgreybruce.on.ca).