COVID 19 Updates

February 9, 2022 - REP requirements no longer needed at City-owned facilities

Effective immediately, the City of Lethbridge will no longer require proof of vaccination for the public to enter or use City owned and operated buildings.

The Government of Alberta is responsible for health in the province and the City’s decision to remove the Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) is in line with the Province’s decision and direction, announced Tuesday, that public health measures will be gradually lifted.

The City of Lethbridge continues to work with its partner operators and user groups on their COVID-19 protocols regarding Provincial public health guidelines. Any fee for service or entities with a board that governs their decision making will be able to take their own direction, however the City’s Covid-19 fund will cease for any additional costs such as for security previously checking REP status.

The public is encouraged to reach out to other facility operators about their protocols:

Cor van Raay YMCA – Lethbridge YMCA
o https://lethbridgeymca.ca/
Max Bell Aquatic Centre – University of Lethbridge
o https://www.uleth.ca/sportrec/...

As part of the Province’s Step One, capacity limits are now removed at City-owned and operated facilities – except for facilities with capacity of 500 to 1,000, which will be limited to 500, and facilities with capacity of 1,000-plus, which will be limited to 50 percent.

The Province’s Step One now allows for food and beverage consumption in seated audience settings for large events and entertainment venues, including at the ENMAX Centre.

The City is following the Province’s mandatory mask mandate, but as per their announcement, mandatory masking for youth aged 12 and under in any setting will end February 13 at 11:59 p.m.

For details on the provincial guidelines visit https://www.alberta.ca/covid-19-public-health-actions.aspx.

For more information about City facilities, visit www.lethbridge.ca/thingstodo. For further information on the City’s Covid-19 response, see here.

February 8, 2022 - Changes to Public Health Measures

Step one

Effective Feb. 8 at 11:59 p.m.:

• Restrictions Exemption Program (REP) ends, along with most associated restrictions
• Entertainment venues will continue to have some specific rules in place:
  • Restrictions on sale of food and beverages and consumption while seated in audience settings will be removed.
    
  • Restrictions on closing times, alcohol service, table capacity in restaurants and interactive activities will remain in force.
• For all businesses, venues and facilities – whether they were previously eligible for the REP or not – capacity limits are removed, except for:
  • Facilities with capacity of 500 to 1,000, which will be limited to 500.
  • Facilities with capacity of 1,000-plus, which will be limited to 50 per cent.

Effective at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 13:

• Masks will no longer be required for all children and youth in schools.
• Masks will no longer be required in any setting for children aged 12 and under.

Step two

Effective March 1:

• Any remaining provincial school requirements (including cohorting) will be removed.
• Screening prior to youth activities will no longer be required.
• Capacity limits will be lifted for all venues.
• Limits on social gatherings will be removed.
• Provincial mask mandate will be removed.
• Mandatory work from home removed.

Step three

To be determined based on hospitalization rates continuing to trend downwards

• COVID-specific measures in continuing care will be removed.
• Mandatory isolation becomes a recommendation only.

Additional details on all restrictions and measures in place will be released prior to each step at alberta.ca/CovidMeasures.

September 29, 2021 - COVID Restrictions Clarification Follow-up from ARPA -

Two new health orders were just released today to provide further clarification and guidance around the restriction exemption program - see links below.

• Order 44 (Restrictions) - https://open.alberta.ca/publications/cmoh-order-44-2021
• Order 45 (REP) - https://open.alberta.ca/publications/cmoh-order-45-2021
• REP Guidance - https://open.alberta.ca/publications/covid-19-information-requirements-for-restrictions-exemption-program

We can provide some clarity around a couple of the more common queries we had in the survey:

• In regards to youth aged 12-17 within an entity going forward with the restriction exemption program - the youth aged 12-17 do not need to provide proof of vaccination if they are in the facility solely to participate in recreation or sport activities. If they are going to be doing other things (visiting a restaurant, sitting in public areas (e.g. spectator) then then would need to show proof of vaccination or testing
• Adult (18 and older) coaches, officials and other volunteers involved with or supporting an exempt children/youth program under the restriction exemption program (17 and under) do require proof of vaccination or testing

We will continue to try and provide any clarity around guidance specific to recreation, sport and physical activity areas and implementation and operations as needed. Thank you for your patience.

September 22, 2021 - Clarity provided for youth participants in the Provincial Restrictions Exemption Program

As of Monday, September 20, 2021, the provincial Restrictions Exemption Program was applied to City owned and operated recreation and culture facilities.

As a result of continued consultation with provincial government representatives and community stakeholders over the weekend, the following updates have been applied for all City of Lethbridge operated recreation and culture facilities, effective September 21, 2021:

• Youth participants between ages 12-17 that are solely participating in sport, fitness and performance activities or events will not require proof of vaccination, medical exemption or a negative COVID-19 test.
  • Individual sport and recreation organizations may choose stricter vaccination requirements for their participants. Please consult with the activity organizer to confirm
    
• Coaches or volunteers for youth participating in sport, fitness or performance activities can enter the facility to conduct their activity or event-related responsibilities without proof of vaccination, exemption, or negative COVID-19 test.
  
  
• All other vaccine-eligible visitors/spectators, including those aged 12-17, must produce proof of vaccination, medical exemption, or negative COVID-19 test result prior to entering a City of Lethbridge operated recreation and culture facility.

Following the Government of Alberta’s public health guidelines, all visitors must continue to follow indoor mandatory masking requirements and physical distancing guidelines.

The ENMAX Centre has established specific COVID-19 protocols that can be found at www.enmaxcentre.ca. ENMAX Centre will follow the new direction for youth participants. The Helen Schuler Nature Centre will shift to the provincial Restrictions Exemption Program on Tuesday, September 28.

The City of Lethbridge continues to work with its partner operators and user groups on their COVID-19 protocols as provincial public health guidelines continue to evolve. We will continue to support our partner efforts in ensuring all participants and spectators are safe.

Residents are encouraged to plan ahead and review facility entry requirements before each visit.

For more information about City facilities, visit www.lethbridge.ca/thingstodo.

For the latest information about provincial public health guidelines, visit alberta.ca/COVID19.

September 19, 2021 - Lethbridge Sport Council Restrictions Exemptions Program Procedure - Effective September 20, 2021, the Lethbridge Sport Council implemented the Restriction Exemption Program for general operations, programs, and events in accordance with the Government of Alberta Restriction Exemption Program and City of Lethbridge operated facility guidelines. For full details please review the document HERE.

September 15, 2021 - New vaccine requirements and COVID-19 measures in Alberta - Alberta has declared a state of public health emergency and will implement new health measures to expand capacity, increase vaccination rates and reduce transmission of COVID-19. New temporary health measures to help slow the spread of COVID-19 will apply provincewide. This includes new restrictions on restaurants, indoor gatherings, weddings and funerals, retail, entertainment venues, and indoor sport and fitness beginning Sept. 20. Measures in workplaces, indoor private gatherings, places of worship, schools and children’s activities, as well as mandatory masking and physical distancing in all indoor public spaces begin Sept. 16.

The following is an excerpt from the news release for restrictions starting at 8 am September 16.

Children’s sport/performance/recreation (extracurricular sports, performance, recreation and special interest): Indoor activities are permitted, with requirements for two-metre physical distancing and masking where possible, and symptom screening for participants. Youth aged 18 and under are not required to mask or maintain physical distancing during a physical activity, such as a team sport. Spectator attendance is limited to one-third fire code capacity. Attendees must be masked and ensure physical distancing between different households or an individual who lives alone and their two close contacts. There are no restrictions on outdoor activities.

The following is an excerpt from the news release for restrictions starting September 20.

Adult (over 18 years old) sport, fitness, performance, and recreation: Indoor activities: No indoor group classes or activities are permitted. One-on-one training or individual workouts are permitted but three-metre physical distancing is required. No contact between players; indoor competitions are paused except where vaccine exemptions have been granted. These facilities and programs are eligible to implement the Restrictions Exemption Program. Specific exemptions may also be granted on a case-by-case basis. There are no restrictions on outdoor activities.

The September 15th News Release in its entirety can be found at https://www.alberta.ca/release...

September 3, 2021 - New Temporary Measures - The Province of Alberta has implemented a few temporary measures to stop the spread of COVID-19, including:

1. The province will make masks mandatory for all indoor public spaces and workplaces starting Sept. 4 at 8 a.m. Schools are not required to implement masking but school boards will continue to set COVID-19 management policies as they deem appropriate.
2. Also, as of Sept. 4 at 8 a.m., restaurants, cafés, bars, pubs, nightclubs and other licensed establishments will be required to end alcohol service at 10 p.m.
3. In addition, Albertans are encouraged to limit in-person contacts. To support this, the province strongly recommends that unvaccinated Albertans limit their indoor social gatherings to close contacts of only two cohort families up to a maximum of 10 people.
4. It is also recommended that employers pause their plans to have staff return to work and instead continue with work-from-home measures. If employees are working on location, employees must mask for all indoor settings, except in work stations or where two-metre physical distancing or adequate physical barriers are in place.

This impacts City of Lethbridge facilities, which many of you utilize. This is what the city has to say: 'All patrons of the arenas must wear a mask in the arena. For on-ice participants, masks are required to be worn until they dawn their helmets, are ready to go on the ice surface or are using the shower facilities. Masks must be worn by spectators, coaches, trainers, and any other ice level patrons./