Summary of a Message From Loyalist Township to LTMHA
On Monday, February 8th, 2021 the provincial government announced that the Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) public health region will be moving back to the COVID-19 Response Framework at the Green (prevent) zone. The move back to the Green zone will be effective Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. At this time KFL&A residents will no longer be subject to the Stay-at-Home order. The current stay-at-home order will remain in place in much of the province until each region transitions back into a colour-coded framework.
By moving into the green zone, arena rentals are permitted to resume under the same policies and procedures that were in effect prior to the province wide shutdown.
In order to prepare for resuming arena rentals, the arena staff are working to have the facilities ready for the resumption of arena rentals starting on Tuesday, February 16th. The Township is hopeful that they will be able to provide access to the facility until the end of March, but at this time do not have a concrete date when the season will come to an end.
Facility procedures prior to the province wide lockdown in December will be in place. At that time we were beginning to experience a pattern of non-compliance with the COVID-specific facility procedures that were developed with the assistance of the health unit. Some facility users appeared to be getting too comfortable/relaxed and began disregarding the mandatory procedures. The Township completely supports these procedures and recognizes that the framework the governments have provided, along with the guidelines provided by our public health unit are in place to help mitigate the risk of transmission of COVID-19 in our community.
The township requires that any groups that plan to return, strictly adhere to the COVID-19 procedures, and ensure that we are enforcing the rules of the facility. This includes, but is not limited to:
Ensuring social-distancing (participants and companions)
Wearing a mask at all times (except upon entry to the ice surface)
Coming to the rink in as much gear as safely possible
The decision has been made that any Permit Holder that fails to have their participants and spectators adhere to the COVID-19 facility procedures, will have the rest of their ice time cancelled for the season.
The province has included an “emergency brake” to allow for immediate action if a public health unit region experiences rapid acceleration in COVID-19 transmission. The Township will not risk the possibility of contributing to this. We have made the decision to cancel ice time if necessary to provide protection against community spread and keep recreation facilities open to allow athletes to develop.
As was indicated in the province’s announcement, not all regions will be moving out of the stay-at-home order, and will be moving into different zones based on their case numbers, etc. At this time, NO teams or participants from a health unit region outside of KFL&A health unit will be permitted in the facility until their region moves to one of the green, yellow or orange zones. It is the requirement of all of us to ensure that we strictly enforce this rule.
Stay local and avoid non-essential travel outside of the KFL&A region, especially travel between areas that remain under the stay-at-home order.
For more information on the Township's COVID-19 updates, please visit loyalist.ca/covid.
Minor hockey's return to play policy can be found in the Library on our home page
Loyalist Township Minor Hockey supports these measures without reservation.
Please do your part to put and keep the kids on the ice!