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Hinshaw urges rec facilities be open to all youth without requiring vaccines

STEPHANIE BABYCH — With files from Meghan Potkins sbabych@postmedia.com Twitter: @Babychstephanie

Calgary recreation facilities are scrambling to reassess newly introduced health measures after Alberta's top doctor recommended youth be exempt from proof of vaccination requirements to take part in sports.

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, the province's chief medical officer of health, said during a news conference Tuesday that the government decided against requiring proof of vaccination for youth recreation activities because of its importance to children's well-being.

“It is necessary to daily living,” Hinshaw said.

Hinshaw said operators can set rules that exceed the minimum requirements in public health orders, but she supports allowing all youth — vaccinated and unvaccinated — to use the facilities whenever possible with other precautions in place.

“Some arenas and facilities serving both adult and youth populations have decided to take a onesize-fits-all approach to requiring proof of vaccination, eliminating options for unvaccinated youth under 18 to take part in sport,” Hinshaw said.

The provincial government launched the Restrictions Exemption Program on Monday, making businesses choose between introducing a number of restrictions meant to curb transmission of COVID-19 or implementing the vaccine passport system.

Starting Monday, visitors 12 years and older must show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID -19 test within 72 hours to access all indoor recreation centres operated by the City of Calgary.

“The orders that have been issued have been so confusing, so unclear, that they've forced municipalities and individual businesses to make up their own mind,” Mayor Naheed Nenshi told reporters Tuesday.

“I am recalling city council (on Wednesday) to consider a city bylaw to bring clarity to the issue and to get rid of all these loopholes, so that every single person knows exactly what they're doing. To say that someone between 12 and 18 can go to hockey practice but can't go out to dinner after hockey practice with the team is crazy.”

Dr. Cora Constantinescu, a pediatric infectious-disease specialist, said families should be constantly assessing their own personal risks when participating in sports.

“Your individual risk of COVID-19 if you are unvaccinated right now is higher than ever,” said Constantinescu.

“We know this disease has shifted to those who are unvaccinated and our kids are right in there, and we know that in the past we had outbreaks during sport activities. So, the onus is on the parents and youth to get vaccinated if they can because personal protection is crucial.”

A majority of Alberta youth eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine have received two doses, according to data from Alberta Health. But as of Tuesday, youth between 10 and 19 years old represent 15 per cent of the province's 20,917 active cases of COVID -19.

“We can see from current numbers that most of our infection and by far most of our hospital and intensive-care stays are among the unvaccinated,” said Constantinescu.

YMCA Calgary officials said they are aware of the recommendation from Hinshaw and will assess their current rules to determine if a change is necessary or advised.

The YMCA adopted the REP on Monday, also requiring those 12 and older to prove their vaccination status. The Calgary Minor Soccer Association welcomed Hinshaw's comments.

“We are currently awaiting guidance from our governing bodies on how the indoor season will be impacted and will share these details with our soccer community as soon as possible,” said the association in a statement.

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2021-09-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

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