COVID-19 Update – January 27, 2022
The Chief Public Health Office has announced that some form of sport and recreation could start again beginning Monday, January 31. Sport PEI and the Sport and Recreation Division have been working with our partners along with members of the CPHO to put some details together as it relates to sport and recreation sector. Below is information that will provide additional details that should assist in determining what is and isn’t allowed with these new protocols.
The CPHO put out their guidance for all sectors as it relates to the January 31 protocols. They can be found – https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/temporary-covid-19-measures
General considerations:
- Small gatherings are lower risk than larger gatherings
- Outdoor gatherings are lower risk than indoor gatherings
- It is recommended to keep gatherings
- Masking – all participants in any sport and recreation activity should wear a properly fitted mask while moving about in facilities and only remove the mask prior to participating in the activity or when putting on a
Two important considerations for sport and recreation activities is related to physical distancing and activities where physical distancing is not possible.
Activities that involved interactions – These are activities where participants get into each other’s space and it isn’t possible to social distance.
Activities that involve no interactions – These are activities where you can do for the entire activity and are able to maintain six feet of social distancing between you and the other participants.
There are three categories of activities that need to be considered as it relates to our section
- Any sport or program where the participants are considered a team where there is interaction among the participants as part of the activity. Examples include any team sport (hockey, basketball, soccer, ringette), drop‐in programs where the participants interact (pickup basketball or shinny hockey) or group activities where participants can’t maintain physical distancing (synchronized skating or combat sports)
These activities or programs can go forward as part of a consistent group of up to 20 individuals. Staff are excluded from the 20, as well as volunteers (ie. coaches) who can physically distance from others (see FAQ answer below for more detail).
- A group class, a set‐timed public activity or an organized program (non‐teams) where physical distancing is possible between the participants. Examples include fitness classes, public skates, organized hiking or snowshoe
These activities must ensure all participants are able to physical distance while participating in the activity, as well as any volunteers, and can have up to 50 individuals. If the space doesn’t allow for physical distancing for 50 individuals than organizers must adjust the numbers of individuals allowed. This also includes while the participants are in change rooms and rest areas. Staff are excluded from the 50.
- A facility with program times for individuals coming in and leaving at their own time. Examples of this include fitness facilities and drop‐in gymnasium
These facilities are allowed to operate at 50% capacity and ensure that physical distancing is happening among the people participating in the activity.
Reminder that the Vax Pass program continues to apply for individuals 19 years of age and older for:
- Sporting and recreational activities and spectators at these activities
- Indoor gyms, exercise/dance facilities/studios, swimming pools and skating rinks
- Group activities where there is interaction within 6 ft and for which participants are both over and under 19 years of
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a participant allowed to participate in more than one activity or team as part of a consistent 20? Example ‐ a player plays on two different sport teams (basketball and hockey).
Yes, a player can participate in more than one activity and team however if they are involved in a lot of different groups, participants should try and limit the number of groups they are participating in.
Can parents assist younger participants who are with their consistent 20 and stay to view the activity taking place?
Parents can assist younger participants to get ready for their activity so long as the following is observed:
- Parents must wear their mask all the time and physical distance as much as
- To support physical distancing, facilities should allow for extra space by allocating additional change rooms (if possible) to larger teams or groups and consider staggering use if
- Vax pass requirements are still in place for those 19 years of age and older and for groups where there are participants are both over and under 19 years of
- Parents can stay and watch the activity ensuring they are physically distanced while in the stands. There can be no more than 50 people in the facility space. Maximum number in the entire group is 50 (up to 20 consistent participants on ice and a maximum of 30 spectators and volunteers) – easiest suggested approach is to say maximum 1 parent per participant (only if needed).
We have a consistent group of old‐timers who play hockey at noon. They generally don’t practice and just scrimmage, is this allowed?
Yes, if this is a consistent group and there are no more than 20 participants then yes, this group can continue to participate in their activity.
We have a facility that can be divided into smaller parts and allow a variety of users or multiple groups use the entire space. Examples of this include a curling club with multiple sheets of ice, a hockey rink divided into half, or a gymnasium divided down the middle to use cross courts.
Yes, this is possible so long as the following parameters are in place:
- There is a barrier of some sort to divide the space (lines, drop curtain, removable boards) that will keep the groups from mixing (6 foot physical distancing), each organized group in their space must be no more than a consistent group of 20 and the total number in that entire space is a maximum of 50 (including any spectators and physically distant volunteers)
- The participants from the groups must also be able to physical distance in the areas outside of the field of play (ie. Change rooms, rest areas)
- For personal use (as opposed to an organized activity), groups of up to 10 (household and steady 10) would be able to use the space (ie. Curling ice or skating rink rentals or bowling lanes, etc.)
- Physical distancing must be maintained while entering and exiting the facility and shared
Example – two teams are using half ice for a practice. There is a divider down the middle, so the teams do not mix. The maximum number on each half of the ice is 20 participants and the maximum number in the entire ice area (on‐ice and stands) is 50 (players, coaches and parents).
Do the 20 consistent participants include coaches as well as participants or is it just the participants since they are the ones usually doing the interacting with one another?
It just includes the participants so long as the coaches and volunteers are able to physical distance from the players while doing the activity. If coaches and volunteers are part of the activity or are in close proximity with the participants and interacting with them consistently then they would be included as part of the 20.
Any team with more than 20 players must come up with a system to divide their team so they have a consistent group participating with each other. Example – A team has 30 players on a training team. That group can make two teams of 15 and continue to train as a consistent group of 15.
Can our consistent team scrimmage amongst ourselves or is it practice only?
Yes, your team can scrimmage within your consistent 20 only. Another team cannot be added to the activity to create two different teams playing against each other.
What are the rules around non‐interaction and non‐contact sports such as pickle ball or badminton?
So long as physical distancing can be maintained among participants then there can be up to 50 participants so long as the space is adequate to handle that number. If it is a situation where participants from different households are pairing up with someone else and playing multiple teams, then the maximum would be the consistent 20 because physical distancing isn’t able to be followed.
We have a league where small teams (ie. 10 players) usually play other teams, is this allowed?
No, league play is not permitted. Even though the team sizes are small and combined they are within the number of 20, they are not a consistent group and therefore this activity is not permitted.
However, if the small teams come together to form a consistent 20, then they can do their activity following all the rules related to consistent 20. They cannot juggle their groups day to day or week to week. That group must stay the same so long as these protocols are in place. Example – curling, if a club gathers on Mondays, so long as four or five teams (maximum 20 participants) play amongst themselves and stay consistent, they can do their activity in that manner.
What if someone tested positive on our team, is everyone considered a close contact and have to self‐ isolate?
Should anyone test positive on a team, they should let their coaches know and then have the participants work through the scenarios listed in the link below to determine what they are required to do.
http://www.princeedwardisland.ca/testedpositive
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-and-wellness/covid-19-close-contacts