Dear Renegade Players and Families,
Yesterday, Premier Ford provided an update with respect to the quickly changing situation with the Omicron variant. This update provided for some additional public health measures that the Town of Newmarket has implemented for everyone's safety. We ask for your assistance in strictly following these new and existing measures.
Occupancy of recreational spaces has been reduced to 50 % capacity. This is usually not an issue at our town arenas but will be enforced if necessary.
As you are aware, we have already seen cancellation of games by regional sport bodies. We know and believe in the importance of maintaining spaces where
individuals can exercise and can connect. They are vital to the emotional and mental health of all within our community. But we also must ensure the safety of all athletes, spectators and Town staff. As such, we must work together to stop the spread. With that in mind, please ensure that you are following the protocols:
When possible, arrive fully dressed to play your sport.
o This will minimize time required to be in a dressing rooms.
Wear your mask at all times, including while using a dressing room.
o Dressing rooms are a prime location for spread of any virus due to many bodies and minimal ventilation.
Eating or drinking in the facility will not be permitted
o We often see members of the public with their mask pulled down/off for minutes at a time and chatting as they sip on coffee. Participants of sport may continue using water bottles, etc.
Continue to distance as much as possible.
o We know the dressing rooms and hallways are busy, so keep moving as quickly and safely as possible.
Dry land training may only take place outside or in a dedicated room, and cannot occur within passive areas or communal hallways around the facility.
Ensure your team has a “safety ambassador” onsite to remind/assist players and family members of public health requirements.
Please consider that Town staff (Screeners, facility workers etc.) are needed to operate each site. Each day, they are exposed to thousands of members of the public. Should the Town have too many staff forced to isolate (or worse), it is a very real concern that they simply will not be able to operate a building on a given day, or longer.
As stated, we want our Renegade players and families to do everything we possible to ensure that we can keep our facilities open and our athletes on the ice. In order to do this, we need everyone to recognize the situation and ensure they are following all public health measures.
Given the seriousness of our current situation the Town will act swiftly and will cancel bookings for groups that are found to be disregarding or not complying with these stated regulations.
Now is not to time to ease up. To keep our facilities open and operational, we must be more diligent than ever.
We appreciate your efforts in following these safety measures to keep our families and athletes safe!
NMHA Executive