In an effort to ensure sporting activities can continue as much as possible in the London-area, the local health unit is updating its recently announced COVID-19 restrictions.
The Middlesex-London Health Unit issued a Section 22 order under the Ontario Health Protection and Promotion Act on Friday to modify public health measures that had been introduced on Wednesday to reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The main change to the restrictions is an increase to the limit of participants allowed to participate in organized fitness and sports activities. Beginning on Saturday at 12:01 a.m., no more than 12 people will be permitted in a class at a facility. As well, only 25 people will be permitted to be on a field of play, such as an ice rink or soccer field. Sports teams must also limit their rosters to 12 players and any players on the sidelines must ensure that they are social distancing from each other by two meters.
All athletes must also follow the current provincial Stage 3 reopening laws which prohibit contact sports.
The recent restrictions in the London-area come on the heels of an outbreak at a Hamilton fitness studio, which was linked to around 80 cases of COVID-19.
Other orders issued on Wednesday pertaining to bars, restaurants, and banquet halls will remain unchanged and come into effect on Saturday at 12:01 a.m. However, the health unit is delaying the orders for personal service care settings, such as salons, tattoo parlours, and spas until 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, to have further dialogue about reducing the impact on these businesses and their operations.
The Middlesex London Health Unit reported 10 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday with nine recoveries, bringing the number of active cases in the city and county to 69. Since the start of the pandemic, there has been a total of 1,081 cases in the region.
A full list of orders issued by the health unit on Friday can be read below:
1. Each class, organized program, or organized activity must take place in a separate room or be in a large space such as an arena, pool, or high school gymnasium where each class, program or activity can be separated by an impermeable barrier, or be distinctly separated by a minimum of three metres.
2. The maximum number permitted on a field of play, such as an indoor soccer field, ice pad, basketball court, or similar space, is 25 people, inclusive of staff, referees, and/or instructors.
3. For team sports in which substitutions are required, a maximum of 12 are permitted on the roster. For individuals who are not actively participating in the program or activity, a physical distance of two metres must be maintained between each individual.
4. If participants are not wearing a helmet, face coverings should be worn when not actively participating in rigorous physical activity.
5. For individual activities that occur in a fixed location, such as yoga or spin classes, all efforts must be made to maximize physical distance between each person, and in no case may the space between persons in a class be less than three metres. These activities must take place in a separate room, and a maximum of 12 participants and one instructor is permitted. The instructor must wear a face covering.
6. The instructor of any class, organized program or organized activity must wear a face covering or provide instruction virtually. In no instances should instructors sing or shout, and if amplification is required, a microphone should be used. Participants singing along to the music or shouting back at the instructor should be discouraged.
7. The operator must ensure that the building heating, venting and air conditioning (HVAC) system are well maintained in line with the Guidance for facilities for sports and recreational fitness activities during COVID-19.
8. The total number of people permitted to be in a class, or actively participating in an organized program or organized activity at the facility cannot exceed 12 people. An additional three staff, referees, and/or instructors are permitted.
9. Any steam rooms, saunas, whirlpools, or bathhouses must be closed.