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TEMP RULES FOR TEEN VAX

Transition time at arenas

BRIAN CROSS bcross@postmedia.com

The City of Windsor has added a transition period to the rule announced Monday that requires anyone 12 and up to provide proof of double vaccination to enter an arena or other recreational facility.

The rule was supposed to kick in Wednesday, intended to iron out a potentially confusing detail in Ontario's new vaccination regulation, which says people ages 12 to 17 won't need to show proof to enter a recreational facility if they are participating in an organized sport, but that anyone age 12 and up must show proof if they are attending as a spectator. The City of Windsor rule requires everyone age 12 and up — athlete or spectator — to be fully vaccinated.

But by Tuesday, it was becoming apparent the new rule's short notice — coupled with a four-week wait between the first and second dose — could mean some young athletes would be barred from city facilities for weeks while waiting for the second shot.

“We appreciate that short notice was provided to parents, coaches and teams in implementing this policy and I am now proposing to amend Monday's motion to allow for a transition period,” Mayor Drew Dilkens said in a Tuesday news release.

The new rule, which is effective Wednesday, allows athletes ages 12 to 17 entry into city facilities as long as they have one dose. Starting Nov. 1, full vaccination will be required. The change was approved by council in an email vote Tuesday afternoon.

The change “will help ensure that kids will continue to be able to participate in the short term and help us encourage local vaccination rates in the long term,” the mayor said. He also said the Ontario regulation requiring spectators above the age of 12 to be fully vaccinated still applies.

More than 70 per cent of youth ages 12 to 17 have one dose, but less than 60 per cent are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Windsoressexcountyhealthunit.

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2021-09-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-22T07:00:00.0000000Z

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