On Friday, September 25, 2020, the Province of Manitoba announced that Winnipeg and surrounding communities will be entering the Restricted – Orange phase of the Province’s pandemic response system. As cases continue to rise in the Winnipeg metro area, the Province is seeking to implement this phase as a method of reducing the current growth in numbers as it did in the Prairie Mountain Health Region earlier. This restricted phase will be implement for a minimum period of four weeks.
After evaluating the situation, MWSA believes that it is important to align with the spirit of public health recommendations for the general public. Presently, sport and recreational activities are not affected by the new orders as they fall under previously established health orders. The health orders do affect other aspects of sport, including gatherings before and after practice, meetings, etc.
As some of our membership have an increased risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19, we believe we have an additional responsibility to add additional protective measures during times such as these. That said, MWSA will be making the following changes effective Monday, September 28th as a result of Winnipeg entering the Restricted – Orange phase.
New Participant Number Restrictions
All MWSA programs will be limited to ten (10) individuals per court, including coaches, reducing the number of people on the court from our Return to Play protocols. This limitation will be required until further notice or until the Restricted Level is lifted by the Province.
Presently, this is a small change for our group as we have been operating with reduced numbers currently. However, it will be increasingly important to communicate with your coaches your intention to attend each practice to ensure each spot is being appropriately used.
Indoor Mask Use Mandatory
The use of non-medical masks will become mandatory in all indoor spaces as per the orders given by the Province. All athletes are required to abide by this rule while entering and moving through the facility. Mask use will not be required while participating on-court, however, they must be worn as soon as programming has concluded.
Practicing Good Hand Hygiene
All individuals will be responsible for ensuring they sanitize their hands on arrival and immediately after attending a practice. It will be expected that physical distancing, regular hand washing, and cough etiquette be exercised at all times. This is consistent with MWSA’s Return to Sport plans.
Stay Home If You’re Sick
As outlined in our plans, all individuals are expected to stay home if you are feeling sick or unwell. Everyone is required to use the self-screening tool from the Province of Manitoba prior to attending programming. Even if you are unsure about this, the best practice will be to stay home if you are unsure if you are healthy enough to participate.
Anyone experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms are encouraged to contact Health Links Info Sante at (204) 788-8200 and to obtain advice from a nurse. If advised, individuals should attending a testing centre for testing. If positive, the individual will follow the instructions by Public Health. If negative, individuals can attend programming 24 hours after the conclusion of their symptoms.
Together, we can ensure we do our best efforts to have a safe sporting environment for everyone. We understand that these are constantly fluctuating times, and we appreciate everyone’s understanding as we continue to adapt to this ever changing landscape.
