COVID-19 Response & Protocols
As we are all aware, COVID 19 has impacted life and business quite drastically. While we remain uncertain about the future and how this could progress or return to “normal” we will do our best with what we know now in order to reduce transmission. Here are the guidelines, restrictions, and policies that we have adopted currently:
Awareness/ Preparation
● All staff and volunteers will be familiar with and comply with COVID-19 General Relaunch Guidance provided by Alberta Health and will be knowledgeable with respect to transmission
● Group sizes will be limited
Daily Practices
● Prior to attending group; all participants, staff and volunteers will be required to complete a screening checklist (scroll to the bottom!)
● We will provide hand sanitizer (60% alcohol or higher) before group, during transitions and prior to leaving. Participants are encouraged to bring their own as well.
● Participants and spectators from different households are expected to maintain a minimum distance of 2 metres
● Children/ youth will be asked to bring their own helmets
● Participants will not share personal items (water bottles, etc.)
● Participants will bring their own snacks/ drinks if required
● Respiratory etiquette will be discussed during orientation on the first day and will be verbally encouraged daily by staff and volunteers
● Activities will take place outdoors, weather permitting
● During each session there will be a designated staff/ volunteer to oversee activities to ensure guidelines are being met
● We ask that anyone attending group refrains from the use of scented products to prevent sneezing and coughing
● Each participant will be assigned a lead rope that they will solely use for the duration of group to avoid unnecessary sharing and this will be disinfected at the end of each day
● Participants will be asked to use verbal encouragement and body language (ie: “way to go”, giving a thumbs up) instead of physical celebration customs (ie: no handshakes, no high fives, etc).
● Participants will be working with the same partner for the duration of group
● We ask that parents refrain from socializing during drop-off and pick up as well as limit spectating. If you would like to stay and watch for any amount of time we ask that you stay in the designated area, remain a minimum of 2 meters apart from any other parent, and additional children will not be allowed to spectate with you.
Sanitation, Cleaning, Disinfection
● Each day, before and after group, we will sanitize commonly touched surfaces and shared equipment
● Hand sanitizer will be available throughout the facility.
● Lysol wipes and an open garbage can will be available in the bathroom and near the arena
● Participants will wash their hands for 20 seconds with soap and water in the designated bathroom before snack time
● Bathrooms will be fully stocked with soap and paper towels and will be disinfected before and after each group
Rapid Response Protocols
● If a participant becomes symptomatic during session they will be asked to remove themselves from the arena and return home. If the participant is a child/youth, they will be asked to wait at the designated spot which is away from others and their parent/guardian will be contacted.
● Once the symptomatic individual has left the premises, the area in which they were present and anything they came in contact with will be cleaned and disinfected
● The participant, as well as anyone who was in direct contact with them, will not be allowed to return to group until
A) they have shown they have tested negative for COVID-19 OR
B) they self-isolate for two weeks
Screening Checklist:
Prior to EACH day of group, you will be required to complete this or help your child complete it. If you answer YES to any question (unless it is due to a pre-existing condition), unfortunately you will not be allowed to participate in the program until you either
A) get tested and receive negative results OR
B) self-isolate for 2 weeks.
1. Does the person attending the activity have any of these symptoms:
● Fever
● Cough
● Shortness of breath/ difficulty breathing
● Sore throat
● Chills
● Painful Swallowing
● Runny Nose/ Nasal Congestion
● Feeling unwell/ fatigued
● Nausea/ vomiting/ diarrhea
● Unexplained loss of appetite
● Loss of sense of taste or smell
● Headache
● Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
2. Have you, or anyone in your household, returned from travel outside of Canada in the last 14 days?
3. Have you or your children attending the program had close, unprotected contact (face to face contact within two meters) with someone who is ill with cough and/or fever?
4. Have you or anyone in your household been in close unprotected contact in the last 14 days with someone who is being investigated or confirmed to be a case of COVID-19?