More details have been announced about new safety measures being introduced by the Simcoe-Muskoka District Health Unit in order to curb a rise in COVID-19 cases in the region.
The Instructions are directed to owners, operators, and persons responsible for any indoor areas of facilities used for organized sports and recreational fitness activities in the municipalities of the County of Simcoe, the District of Muskoka, and the Cities of Orillia and Barrie.
Our Medical Officer Of Health, Dr Charles Gardner has issued the following notice:
Given ongoing transmission of the virus, in addition to increased cases associated with indoor organized recreational sports and fitness activities being identified in the County of Simcoe, the District of Muskoka, and Ontario, I have determined that it is necessary to expand the requirement for vaccination to all individuals attending or involved in organized indoor sports and fitness activities.
Activities related to organized sports and recreational fitness activities, particularly contact sports and high intensity fitness, put all individuals at greater risk for COVID-19 transmission due to heavy breathing, yelling/cheering, close physical contact, length of contact, and lack of masks for source control. This risk is significantly increased when activities take place indoors.
Following consultation with the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health, I am issuing the following enhanced instructions to owners, operators and persons responsible for facilities or any premises or part of a premises used for indoor organized sports and recreational fitness activities, especially given that activities related to indoor recreational and sport activities have the potential to increase COVID-19 transmission to those involved, as well as their household members and the community at large.
These instructions are to be implemented by every owner, operator, or person responsible for indoor facilities or any indoor premises or indoor part of a premises used for organized sports and recreational fitness activities in the municipalities of the County of Simcoe, the District of Muskoka, and the Cities of Orillia and Barrie, unless specifically exempt by these instructions.
These instructions are to be implemented in addition to any other COVID-19 regulatory requirements, local bylaws or health unit Orders that are or may come into force or effect.
Effective the prescribed dates provided below and until further notice, I am instructing all owners, operators, and persons responsible for any indoor areas of facilities used for organized sports and recreational fitness activities in the municipalities of the County of Simcoe, the District of Muskoka, and the Cities of Orillia and Barrie to implement the following measures:
1. As communicated in the October 14, 2021 letter of instruction, effective November 25, 2021 at 12:01 a.m., require each individual, age 12 years of age and older on the date of entry, at the point of entry, who attends the indoor area of the facility for the purpose of: coaching, teaching, instructing, officiating at organized sports or volunteering in any capacity for any purpose, to provide
i. personal identification; and
ii. proof of being fully vaccinated* against COVID-19 or provide a valid medical exemption each time they enter.
* Acceptable proof of vaccination going forward shall be in the form as required by the Ministry of Health Proof of Vaccination Guidelines.
2. Effective December 8, 2021, implement and enforce a policy that requires each participant, 12 years of age and older, who attends an indoor area of the facility for the purpose of:
a. Attending or being involved, in any capacity, in indoor organized sports and/or indoor recreational fitness activities; to provide, at the point of entry:
i. identification and proof of having received at least one dose of a Health Canada approved COVID-19 vaccine for any entry on or after December 8, 2021, and
ii. identification and proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for any entry on or after February 16, 2022, or
iii. a valid exemption as set out in section 2.1(6) of Schedule 1, each time they enter.
3. Effective January 1, 2022, implement and enforce a policy that provides that all children have a grace period of 12 weeks from their 12th birthday during which they provide identification at the point of entry, but do not need to provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This is to allow a reasonable opportunity for vaccination to be completed, and to accommodate the current recommended 8-week interval between dose 1 and dose 2.
4. Otherwise comply with, and implement the above instructions, in accordance with all applicable requirements under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, including the Proof of Vaccination requirements in Section 2.1 of Schedule 1, and the Ministry of Health’s Proof of Vaccination Guidance for Businesses and Organizations.
The instructions set out above shall be in full force and in effect until further notice despite any changes that may be made by the Province to SMDHU’s step of reopening under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, as may be amended from time to time.
You are required to comply with the additional measures above, pursuant to regulations under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, including any successor legislation or regulations. As per the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, 2020, individuals who do not comply with the above noted requirements may be liable for a fine up to a maximum of $100,000 or in the case of a corporation, not more than $10,000,000 for each day or part of each day on which the offence occurs or continues.
Any questions regarding the application of this letter of instruction shall be directed to the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s Health Connection line at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520.
To read the full notice, please click here.
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— SMDHU (@SMDhealthunit) November 18, 2021
