In
response to the increase of the Omicron variant now circulating in our
community, the Township of Woolwich is reaching out to all of our ice
users to make sure everyone is aware of upcoming changes to the proof of
vaccination procedure and provincial regulations limiting sports facilities to
50% capacities. We ask for your support in slowing the spread of the
virus by following safety measures.
For information on the changes to the proof of vaccination procedures please see our Check Before You Rec page. Please consider the extra time required for all these checks when arriving at our facilities.
Cooperation by all our rental groups and their members is critical to slowing the spread of the virus within the sport community. We ask that sport groups continue to remain diligent in all their safety practices and consider the following to help reduce the spread of the virus during this extra precarious time.
While we recognize many groups are already doing these already, we respectfully ask that beginning January 2nd , sport groups do the following and communicate with their members to do the same:
- Reduce the number of spectators per player at practices and games (1 parent/guardian per player where possible)
- Have players come to practice and/or games as dressed as much as possible and ready to play – dressing rooms will be available 15 minutes before and after ice times
- Keep safe dressing room protocols – minimize time spent in dressing rooms, wear masks, and keep distanced
- Abide by new dressing room posted capacities (50%) or capacity of 10 players in most dressing rooms – this may mean players taking turns. We are working to accommodate sufficient dressing rooms for game play and may need to make some adjustments. Staff will be in touch with the associations early next week.
- Remind all participants of the requirement to wear masks at all times including coaching staff, volunteers, parents, and athletes while not on the playing surface or bench
- Keep distanced wherever possible, and do not congregate in lobbies or hallways
- Limit bringing food or beverages into the recreation facilities (water for sport is exempted). Only consume these items if absolutely necessary, and re-mask as soon as possible after consuming within the recreation facilities. These measures are in place to encourage mask wearing while in the recreation facilities.
- Eliminate indoor team social activity
- Ensure participants, volunteers, parents/spectators are performing health screening and contact tracing either in advance or upon arrival and showing proof of vaccination and ID
Our staff thank you all for doing your part to offer sport programming in a responsible and safe manner. We recognize the important role our groups play in helping to communicate to participants our key messages on how to help reduce the spread and keep facilities open, and thank you for helping to advocate with participants for respect and enforcement of our policies. Thank you for wearing your masks, keeping socially distant, practicing good hygiene and getting vaccinated.
Regulations and directions are subject to change based on further direction and/or guidance from the Province and Regional governments. Program participants are reminded to Check Before you Rec for health screening and applicable program information.
We will continue to monitor provincial regulations and announcements, and are working closely with the Region of Waterloo Public Health Unit to interpret regulations and guidelines as they are released or amended.