Vaccine mandate coming for youth indoor sports in Kingston, Ont.
Children aged 12 to 17 will soon need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to participate in organized indoor sports in the Kingston region.
The Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health unit said in a release Wednesday that, starting Dec. 6, children and teens would need to provide proof that they had at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or a valid medical exemption in order to take part in organized indoor sports activities.
Medical officer of health Dr. Piotr Oglaza issued the new rules via a letter of instruction.
"Organized sports are defined as sports and recreation activities including, but not limited to, sports leagues, organized pick-up sports, dance classes, gymnastics, martial arts, and swimming classes, or as otherwise described in the Ministry of Health’s proof of vaccination guidance for businesses and organizations under the Reopening Ontario Act, 2020," the health unit said.
Starting Feb. 25, 2022, a full series of vaccination will be required.
KFL&A Public Health says indoor sports tick all the boxes as high-risk settings, with close contact, closed spaces, crowded places, prolonged exposure, and forceful exhalation.
COVID-19 cases in the KFL&A region have been increasing rapidly in recent weeks. According to the health unit, there are presently 220 active cases in the region, and the seven-day average is 71.3 cases per 100,000 population. For comparison, Ottawa has 303 active cases and its seven-day average per 100,000 population is 24.6 cases.
More than 90 per cent of KFL&A residents 12 and older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 87.4 per cent are considered fully vaccinated.
The health unit said the proof of vaccination requirements for indoor sports would remain in effect until the medical officer of health no longer deems it necessary. Failure to comply could result in a fine of up to $100,000.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States.