Compulsory Vaccination for Organized Indoor Sports in Over 12 Years: Toronto Public Health – Toronto | The Canadian News

Toronto Public Health says it has issued an “instruction letter” requiring anyone who is 12 or older and who wants to participate in organized indoor sports to provide proof of being fully immunized against COVID-19.

This includes players, coaches, caretakers, volunteers and officials who must show proof of vaccination (or a valid medical exemption) along with identification, the local public health unit said.

The mandate takes effect on November 1.

Previously, the provincial government had excluded recreational sports for youth (under 18 years of age) when it published its vaccine policy guidelines.

However, over the past week, many local public health units, including the York Region, Windsor-Essex, Huron Perth Public Health, Middlesex-London Health Unit, and Southwestern Public Health, took a harder line to include all eligible to get vaccinated. show test for indoor sports.

Toronto is now one of the last local public health units to implement a similar policy. It says that the additional measure for the vaccination test is “necessary to decrease the transmission of COVID-19 for all those who practice or attend an organized sport indoors.”

The local public health unit said that although some indoor sports organizations have already implemented a vaccination policy, this letter of instructions will create consistency across organizations and facilities to ensure “the highest possible protection in these settings.”

COVID-19 outbreaks have been reported and linked to youth sports, including some youth basketball tournaments held in Oshawa.

“We have seen COVID-19 cases and outbreaks related to indoor sporting and recreational events,” said Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto Medical Health Officer. “With a consistent vaccination policy, in addition to self-protection measures, we decrease the risk of COVID-19 transmission in these settings and ensure that these activities continue in the safest way possible.”

– with archives from The Canadian Press

1:59Toronto’s medical health officer will ask the province to make COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for students

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