July 27, 2020

Introduction

Numerous Parks, Forestry and Recreation programs and services have been altered or suspended as part of the City's effort to curtail the spread of COVID-19.  This document addresses service resumption for Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields for permitted activities including but not limited to, Soccer, Softball, Lacrosse, Ball Hockey, Football, Ultimate Frisbee, Baseball and Cricket as we move towards re-opening.

 

Key Dates

July 31, 2020 (Stage 3 - Toronto Region)

 

Infection prevention and control measures:

The following mitigation guidelines will help reduce the risk of respiratory infections, including COVID-19.

 

Guidelines: Before Arrival

Individuals must self-screen themselves to limit the introduction of infection:

• Prior to attending Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields, every participant must do the self-assessment for COVID-19 on the Ontario Ministry of Health website and if they do not pass the assessment they should not use the Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields until they pass the assessment and do not have signs and symptoms of COVID-19.  All participants can visit the City's website to determine if further care is required and learn about assessment centres

 

• All participants should be aware of signs and symptoms of COVID-19, including:

Fever

Cough

Difficulty breathing

Muscle aches

Tiredness

Sore throat

Headache

Runny nose

New loss of taste or smell

 

The World Health Organization advises that symptoms may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 10 to 14 days after contracting COVID-19.  Those who are infected with COVID-19 may have few or no symptoms.  Hence, there is the possibility of asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic spread of COVID-19.

 

Entrance Restrictions:

• Anyone who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or has had close contact with a confirmed case cannot utilize Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields

 

• There is a higher risk for severe illness in people over the age of 60, and those with weakened immunity or underlying health conditions

 

Guidelines: While using Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields

Reduce the risk of transmission during activities:

• Stay at home when you are ill

The following screening questionnaire for staff is available on the Toronto COVID-19 site under

Workplaces: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/95f0-Survey-Screening-poster-TPH.pdf

 

• Practice physical distancing and maintain a 2 metre distance from others when at the Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields

 

• Respect any Provincial Emergency Orders that prohibit social gatherings of a certain size, including current limits of up to 100 people for organized activities taking place at the time are outdoors

 

• Each permit holder must to the best of their ability maintain a record of participants that could support potential public health contact tracing as needed

 

Practice proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 15 seconds

 

• If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

 

• Cover your cough or sneeze into a tissue.  Immediately throw the tissue in the garbage and wash your hands

 

• If you don't have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve or arm

 

• Avoid touching your face, nose and mouth with unwashed hands

 

• Participants may wear masks at their own discretion

 

Ensure that people who become ill with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 while using Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields should go home to self-isolate:

• People who become ill while at any Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields should go home immediately, in a private vehicle if possible, and self-isolate.  They should review the City of Toronto website for more information about COVID-19

 

• If a participant at any Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields tests positive for COVID-19, their local Public Health Unit (Toronto Public Health for Toronto residents) will follow-up with close contacts who may include other Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields participants.  Other Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields participants who came in close contact with the infected individual may be required to self-isolate

 

Guidelines: Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields and Adjacent Amenities

Facility Information:

• Nearby facilities (community centres and drinking fountains) may be closed due to Toronto Public Health Guidelines

 

Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields Information:

• Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields will not be sanitized, including but not limited to:

Net/Posts/Uprights

Wickets

Practice Cages

Scoreboards

Backstops/Dugouts

Lighting

Message Boards

Benches

Bleachers

Seating

Tables

Fences

Gates

Water fountains

Storage containers/areas

other apparatus

 

• Prolonged or deliberate contact while playing sports is not permitted

 

• Team sports in which body contact between players is either an integral component of the sport or commonly occurs while engaged in the sport (e.g., wrestling, judo) are not yet permitted, unless the approach can be modified to prevent prolonged or deliberate physical contact

 

• Amateur and recreational sports leagues may resume so long as they do not allow prolonged or deliberate physical contact between players or if they have modifications to avoid physical contact between players

 

• Leagues must contain no more than 50 participant's total.  If participants in a league exceed 50, the league may divide into smaller groups of no more than 50.  Players are not yet permitted to play against players outside of their league or group

 

• The total number of spectators permitted to be at the facility at any one time must be limited to the number that can maintain a physical distance of at least two metres from every other person in the facility, and in any event cannot exceed 100 spectators for outdoor facilities

 

• The maximum limits on spectator numbers applies to spectators only, not to athletes, coaches and staff as well

 

• All sport activities must be conducted in accordance with the rules and policies of the applicable organization, including the rules and policies put in place to enable safe return to the sport

 

• Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields participants are advised to practice good hand sanitization/hygiene while using any part of the Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields

 

• Participants are asked not to touch other participants.  This includes no high five’s, fist bumps or hand shaking, sharing of personal sporting/fitness equipment and/or food/beverages

 

• Fountains and water bottle filling stations may be closed and patrons are asked to bring their own pre-filled water bottles

 

• Participants are asked not to loiter around the Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields to assist in physical distancing and allow others the opportunity to utilize amenity

 

• Locker rooms, change rooms, showers, concession stands, storage and clubhouses in the facility should remain closed, except to the extent they provide access to a washroom or a portion of the facility that is used to provide first aid

 

Cleaning and Disinfecting Requirements:

• Any equipment that is rented or provided to users of the facility must be cleaned and disinfected as often as is practical, such as after each game/practice

 

• If Washroom facilities are available, they will be cleaned as per Toronto Public Health Guidelines

 

• Review Public Health Ontario's Cleaning and Disinfection for Public Settings document

 

Required Signage:

• Post the physical distancing poster at all Sports Fields and Multi Use Fields at prominent locations