Health unit announces greater vaccination mandate for sports and recreational facilities

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Sports and recreation facilities in Windsor-Essex will soon be required to verify proof of vaccination for all attendees ages 12 and up.

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The local health unit on Monday issued a letter of recommendation increasing vaccine requirements set by the provincial government earlier this month. Although the province stated that youth participating in community fitness and sports facilities would not need to be vaccinated, the health unit has decided otherwise.

The requirement will go into effect on October 1.

“We hope this is an incremental step to improve community safety,” said Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, Acting Medical Health Officer.

“Clearly, Windsor-Essex has suffered disproportionately relative to COVID-19 … The number of cases, the percentage of people who test positive, the number of people who self-isolate all suggest that COVID-19 is a burden. meaningful to the community. “

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Under Ontario’s proof of COVID-19 vaccination policy, which went into effect last Wednesday, individuals are required to display receipts for vaccines in a number of indoor settings that are considered non-essential, including facilities used for sports and recreational fitness activities.

The provincial vaccination policy establishes that young people who participate in recreational sports are exempt from vaccination mandates, but the letter of instructions from the health unit establishes that all people over 12 years of age must be fully vaccinated to enter a facility recreational, whether they are playing, as spectators, training or officiating.

The vaccination requirement also applies to youth sports held in community centers.

Alternative accommodations will not be offered to those who are not fully vaccinated, and proof of a negative COVID-19 test will not be accepted in lieu of proof of vaccination.

Reference-windsorstar.com

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