September 16

2020

“Through Recreation we improve quality of life.” 1

GREATER VERNON RECREATION SERVICES

COVID-19 RISK MITIGATION PLAN

(COVID-19 SAFETY PLAN)

Guideline for Safe Reopening:

RECREATION & FITNESS PROGRAMS

(Outdoor & Indoor)

September 16, 2020

Main Contact: Shayne Wright, Manager Recreation Programs

swright@vernon.ca

250-550-3671 / 250-308-7438

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2020

“Through Recreation we improve quality of life.” 2

BACKGROUND

Greater Vernon Recreation Services is operated by the City of Vernon and is charged with

operating a variety recreation spaces for our community partners; the City of Vernon, the

District of Coldstream and the North Okanagan Regional District. The outdoor recreation

spaces include parks, beaches, sport fields and sport courts. Greater Vernon Recreation

Services also operates three (3) recreation facilities that include the Vernon Recreation

Centre (Pool, Gymnasium and Auditorium), Kal Tire Place Arenas and the Priest Valley

Complex (Arena and Gymnasium).

The City of Vernon is committed to adapting recreation opportunities which align with BC’s

Restart Plan and the Provincial Health Office (PHO) guidelines and directives.

The City of Vernon responded in March 2020 to the direction from our public health

officials to close facilities and outdoor spaces which ceased services. The City of Vernon

is now responding to the direction to reopen our facilities and offer services to our

community cautiously, with the safety of staff and community being the priority. The

BCRPA Guideline for Restarting Recreation provides the framework that the City of

Vernon will apply to the provision of recreation and parks services during the pandemic.

This document is intended to provide our participants and instructors/volunteers an

understanding of the City of Vernon’s protocols and the requirements of the participants

and instructor/volunteers who are conducting recreation and fitness programs.

Greater Vernon Recreation Services staff have created this guiding document by following

processes outlined by the following agencies: WorkSafe BC “COVID-19 Safety Plan”,

viaSport “Guidelines to Return to sport,” BCRPA’s “Recreation & Parks Sector: Guidelines

for Restarting Operations”, and the BC Municipal Safety Association “Municipal Safety

Association Best Practices”. All guidelines and procedures outlined in this document are in

compliance with WorkSafe BC and the Provincial Health Officer (PHO) orders.

The mitigation plan will be re-evaluated during operation on an ongoing basis and if an

environment is created where the goals listed in this document cannot be reasonably

achieved, a decision will be made to close the facility or cancel the program.

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2020

“Through Recreation we improve quality of life.” 3

RISK MITIGATION STRATEGIES The purpose of a COVID-19 Safety Plan is to identify the specific control measures that will be taken in order to mitigate the risk of virus transmission, the party responsible for ensuring compliance within the user group, and include but is not limited to, a plan on managing physical distancing, common touch areas, and flow of participants.

The Province has highlighted five (5) principles for every situation in the BC Restart Plan:

Facilities and programs were assessed for transmission risks and consideration was given to the following areas of operation: 1

Physical Distancing & Cleaning & Employee Policies & Signage Outbreak Mitigation

Site Management Sanitation Staff Training & Recovery

The Restart Plan also includes the hierarchy of controls for COVID-19 which are

fundamental to the information the recreation sector needs to restart operations: 2

1 Photos from Interior Health “Guideline for Swimming Pools” 2 Hierarchy Control Chart adapted from WorkSafe BC “COVID-19 Safety Plan”

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2020

“Through Recreation we improve quality of life.” 4

FACILITY GUIDELINES & PHYSICAL DISTANCING Goal: Modify daily operations and physical environment to minimize

the potential for COVID-19 to spread.

1) Program & Playing Surface Management:

• Reference the facility specific safety plan and follow provided information signage

2) Sport Specific Rule Accommodations:

• Reference sport specific return to sport documentation listed on viaSport’s website:

https://www.viasport.ca/sport-specific-guidelines

3) Administrative Controls:

• Reference Municipality COVID-19 information that is applicable.

• Provide public education through signage, media releases, and social media that

encourages appropriate conduct and emphasizes personal responsibility. 3

4) Personal Protective Equipment:

• Reference internal documentation regarding PPE needed to be in the facility or on

the playing surface “Employee Policies & Staff Training”

3 BC Recreation & Parks Association “Recreation & Parks Sector: Guidelines for Restarting Operations”

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2020

“Through Recreation we improve quality of life.” 5

EMPLOYEE POLICIES & STAFF TRAINING Goal: To maintain healthy workers by training all employees how to

protect themselves and guests from COVID-19 and ensuring that all

sick employees remain home for at least 14 days from the onset of

symptoms or until tested and cleared to return to work.

GREATER VERNON RECREATION PROTOCOLS

Greater Vernon Recreation is responsible to:

1. Complete a Facility Assessment of program spaces prior to start of program.

2. Provide on-site signage outlining COVID-19 expectations for the program participants.

3. Update Instructor/Volunteer with protocols and COVID-19 information as recommended by the

Municipal Insurance Association of BC.

4. Update Participant Waivers/Informed Consent with COVID-19 information as recommended by the

Municipal Insurance Association of BC.

5. Provide site specific COVID-19 Facility Guidelines where applicable.

INSTRUCTOR / STAFF / VOLUNTEER PROTOCOLS

Health Screening Controls:

• Instructors/volunteers should self-monitor for symptoms associated with COVID-19 by using the BC Health COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool located here: https://bc.thrive.health/ and answer the prompted questions, which include:

o Do you have any symptoms consistent with COVID-19? Symptoms may include coughing,

fever, sore throat or difficulty breathing.

o Have you been outside of Canada in the past 14 days?

o Have you been directed to self-isolate in the past 14 days?

If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, instructors/volunteers must stay home or if at work,

go home immediately and contact the Recreation Programmer for advice.

• Instructors/volunteer will ask participants the above questions when they arrive for class. If any program participant answers yes to the health screening question, they will not be permitted to attend the program. Anyone who has the symptoms of COVID-19 is recommended to go straight home and consult the self-assessment app at https://bc.thrive.health/ or contact 8-1-1 for further guidance related to testing and self-isolation. If a participant is severely sick (e.g. difficulty breathing, chest pain etc.) call 9-1-1.

Physical Distancing Controls:

• Two metre (2m) physical distancing in place at all times.

• No socializing or gathering before, during or after the program including in the parking lot.

• Inform participants that they should arrive 5 minutes prior to class and please leave immediately after the class.

• Ensure that room occupancy does not exceed posted limits.

• Confirm participant spacing requirements and protocols with Recreation Coordinator. Recommended spacing is outlined in the BCRPA Guideline for Restarting Recreation

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2020

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Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):

• Face covering (non-medical face masks) are not mandatory but recommended whenever 2m physical distancing cannot be maintained. If an instructor/volunteer chooses to wear one, they are responsible for proper disposal or frequent cleaning of them, dependent on the type they choose to use. Information for the care and disposal of facial masks can be found on the BC Centre for Disease Control website.

o Face coverings should be laundered after each day and dried on the highest temperature setting possible. They must be thoroughly dried before re-use.

o Paper masks should be disposed of after each day of use, or if soiled, in accordance to the link above.

• Disposable gloves are not required unless an instructor/volunteer is conducting first aid or carrying out duties that regularly require the use of them. Gloves are not to be used as replacement for proper and frequent hand hygiene. Wearing gloves may actually help spread the coronavirus as workers may unintentionally touch something or someone contaminated with the coronavirus with their gloved hand.

Hand Hygiene:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, please use hand sanitizer.

• Carry and use hand sanitizers.

• Refrain from touching your face. Cough and sneeze into tissue or elbow.

• Minimize requirement to handle paperwork with participants. Sanitize hands before and after handling shared documents.

Cleaning & Disinfecting:

• Cleaning and disinfecting product will be available at each location. Instructor/volunteer must follow cleaning protocols as outlined by the Recreation Coordinator.

• Adapt programming where possible to minimize the use of equipment.

• Encourage participants to bring and use their own equipment.

• If City of Vernon equipment is required, clean before and after use.

• Ensure that participants do not share equipment.

• Program participants are not allowed in equipment storage rooms.

First Aid Controls:

• Instructors/volunteers will be required to following the OFAA protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic for first aid protocols.

• Instructors will have portable first aid kit with them onsite.

• Instructors will be provided with first aid PPE to use if physical distancing cannot be maintained.

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2020

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PARTICIPANT PROTOCOLS Goal: To maintain the health and safety of our workers and

community as they participate in recreation. By providing physical

measures and educating participants how to protect themselves from

COVID-19.

PARTICIPANT PROTOCOLS

Program Waivers/Informed Consent:

• Participants are required to review and acknowledge the new program Waivers/Informed Consent.

• The City of Vernon and its agents will not cover COVID-19 claims. Physical Distancing:

• 2 metre (2m) physical distancing in place at all times.

• No socializing or gathering, before, during or after your program.

• Arrive 5 minutes prior to class and please leave immediately after the class. Limit congregating. Hygiene & Equipment Cleaning:

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, please use hand sanitizer.

• Carry and use hand sanitizers.

• Refrain from touching your face.

• Cough and sneeze into tissue or elbow.

• Do not share equipment during an activity.

• Bringing own equipment to class is encouraged.

• Please clean facility owned program equipment before and after use.

• Do not spit.

• Bring your own water bottle. Water bottle filling stations are available. Screening:

• Participants will be asked: o Do you have any symptoms consistent with COVID-19? Symptoms may include coughing,

fever, sore throat or difficulty breathing.

o Have you been outside of Canada in the past 14 days?

o Have you been directed to self-isolate in the past 14 days?

If any program participant answers yes to the health screening question, they will not be permitted to attend the program. Anyone who has the symptoms of COVID-19 is recommended to go straight home and consult the self-assessment app at https://bc.thrive.health/ or contact 8-1-1 for further guidance related to testing and self-isolation.

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2020

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CLEANING & SANITATION Goal: Increase cleaning and disinfection of common touch points to

prevent COVID-19 from spreading through contaminated surfaces.

1) Activity Equipment and Playing Surface Management:

• Reference viaSport’s Return to Play documentation for specific sport cleaning

• Reference Interior Health’s recommendation for specific cleaning and disinfection

• Reference internal documentation (ie. Facility specific safety plan) for cleaning and

disinfection schedule

2) Engineering Controls:

3) Administrative Controls:

4) Personal Protective Equipment:

• Staff and Volunteers who are responsible for cleaning will be equipped with any

PPE deemed necessary, depending on the cleaning process and chemicals used,

including:

o Disposable gloves

o Surgical Mask (ASTM Level 1)

o Face Shield

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2020

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SIGNAGE Goal: Use signs in employee and public spaces to communicate

important information about COVID-19.

1) Facility Controls:

• Reference Internal facility specific safety plan

2) Engineering Control:

Examples of Signage in Appendix C

3) Administrative Control:

• Maintain up-to-date and consistent messaging on websites, social media, press

releases, and during conversations with patrons to ensure all details are aligned,

timely and accurate.

• Communicate information using diagrams and pictures wherever possible.

• Ensure font size on signage is large enough for everyone to read if the person was

standing 2m (6ft) away from the sign.

• Encourage staff to provide regular feedback on any issues with COVID-19

prevention measures. 4

4) Personal Protective Equipment:

4 BC Recreation & Parks Association “Recreation & Parks Sector: Guidelines for Restarting Operations

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2020

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OUTBREAK MITIGATION & RECOVERY Goal: Modify procedures for managing an exposure or potential

exposure to COVID-19.

1) Facility Controls:

• Reference Ministry of Health documentation

• Reference Interior Health documentation

• Reference WorkSafeBC documentation

• Reference Internal Municipality documentation

2) Engineering Control:

3) Administrative Control:

For Employees/Volunteers:

• Follow the City of Vernon COVID-19 Case Management Procedure5

For Public:

• Have volunteer greet participants and ask common health assessment questions.

For example, How are you feeling today?

• The procedure if a participant is identified as having symptoms is:

1. Recommended to put on a mask and return home.

2. Contact their family physician, primary care provider or Health Link BC at 8-

1-1. If the patron needs to wait for a ride home, they should sit in one

location wearing a mask until their ride arrives.6

• If a participant starts showing symptoms of what could be a cold, influenza or

COVID-10, during play, the Program Coordinator will:

1. Contact someone to pick them up right away if they are unable to get

themselves home.

2. Remove them from the playing area and have them wait at a designated

spot until they are picked up.

3. Continue to practice good hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene, such as

coughing in elbows instead of hands, and throwing tissues out immediately

after use.

4. Do a thorough cleaning and disinfection of the space once the participant

has been picked up.

• If a participant or volunteer tests positive, all families and people who have been in

contact with that individual will be notified immediately. The program may be

cancelled should an outbreak occur.

5 City of Vernon “COVID-19 Case Management Procedure.” 6 BC Recreation & Parks Association “Recreation & Parks Sector: Guidelines for Restarting Operations”

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2020

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4) Personal Protective Equipment:

• Employee PPE can be referenced in the following section “Employee Policies &

Staff Training”

• If a patron is symptomatic, a mask may be provided for them.

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2020

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REFERENCES

1. BC Municipal Safety Association. Municipal Best Practices Guidelines V6. Web: May 27,

2020

2. BC Recreation & Parks Association. Recreation & Parks Sector Guideline for Restarting

Operations. Web: May 20, 2020

3. Lifesaving Society BC & Yukon Branch. Guidelines for Reopening BC’s Swimming Pools and

Waterfronts.

4. Regional Health Authorities, Ministry of Health and BC Centre for Disease Control.

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Guideline for Swimming Pools Web: June 3, 2020

5. viaSport BC. Return to Sport Guidelines for BC. Version 2. Web: August 25, 2020

6. Worksafe BC. COVID-19 Safety Plan. Web: May 17, 2020

7. Worksafe BC. Sport and recreation: Protocols for returning to operation. Web: September

16, 2020

8. City of Vernon COVID-19 Case Management Procedure. COV Intranet: June 11, 2020

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2020

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LINKS

http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Info-Site/Documents/COVID19_DoNotEnterPoster.pdf

http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Professionals-Site/Documents/COVID19_PhysicalDistancingPoster.pdf

http://www.bccdc.ca/Health-Professionals-

Site/Documents/COVID19_Handwashing%20Poster_MD%20offices.pdf

https://www.bcrpa.bc.ca/media/242766/bcrpa-restarting-guidelines-final.pdf

https://www.bcrpa.bc.ca/media/244229/summer-camps-covid-19-guidelines-considerations.pdf

https://bc.thrive.health/covid19/en

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/disinfectants/covid-19/list.html

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/disinfectants/covid-19/hand-

sanitizer.html

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/family-social-supports/covid-19-information

https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/FoodSafety/Documents/823236-Wash-Your-Hands.pdf https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/TattooPiercingTanningHair/Documents/COVID-

19%20Guidance%20for%20Gyms%20and%20Fitness%20Centres%20-%2014May2020.pdf

https://www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/Documents/Guidelines%20for%20Swimming%20Pools.pd

f

https://www.lifesaving.bc.ca/Areas/Admin/Content/images/DashboardFilePdfUpload/DashboardFilePdf/D

ashboard_5154001_Guidelines_for_Reopening_BC's_Pools_and_Waterfronts_-_May_19,_2020.pdf

http://www.vch.ca/Documents/Coronavirus%20Disease%20Guideline%20for%20Recreation%20and%20At

hletics%20Facilities.pdf

https://www.vernon.ca/camps

https://www.worksafebc.com/en/resources/health-safety/checklist/covid-19-safety-plan?lang=en

https://www.worksafebc.com/en/about-us/covid-19-updates/covid-19-returning-safe-operation/child-care

https://www.worksafebc.com/en/about-us/covid-19-updates/covid-19-returning-safe-operation/sports-

recreation

September 16

2020

“Through Recreation we improve quality of life.”

APPENDIX A: SYMPTOMS CHECK 7

7 BC Health. “BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool.”

September 16

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“Through Recreation we improve quality of life.”

APPENDIX B: WORK SAFE BC – GROUP FITNESS

WorkSafe BC protocols for Group Fitness

• Group classes should only be offered if physical distancing measures can be maintained. The provincial health officer prohibition on mass gatherings of more than 50 people applies to fitness or group classes.

• Consider holding outdoor classes to ensure the 2 metre physical distancing requirement is maintained.

• High-intensity classes may result in greater dispersion of droplets from each participant due to higher intensity breathing in addition to participant movement. Position instructors well away from participants, and follow guidance from public health on the appropriate spacing between participants in these types of activities.

• High-powered fans may result in greater dispersion of droplets. Consider further reducing class sizes to maintain room temperature at manageable levels without the use of high-powered fans.

• Mark a designated exercise area for each client to stay inside of during a workout.

• Consider removing unused equipment from group fitness rooms to create additional space for clients.

Physical Distancing Controls This will be the most fundamental health measure in decreasing the transmission of COVID-19. The essential implementation of this health measure is to provide at least two metres of space between people where possible. The City of Vernon is following the BCRPA Guideline for Restarting Recreation for Restarting Operations for determining the spacing and occupancy numbers for recreation and fitness programs. Spacing Requirements:

• 2 metre between people

• 1 metre radius per person for static activities

• 2 metre radius or more per person for active activities

• 5 metre square per person suggested to calculate occupancy for ensuring 2m distance can be maintained between people.

Static Activities (e.g. Yoga) – Calculate space capacity by allowing a 1 metre radius around the centre of each person. This will create a two metre between individual. Active Activities (e.g. Aerobics) – Calculate space capacity by allowing a 2-5 metre radius depending on the activity.

September 16

2020

“Through Recreation we improve quality of life.”

Cleaning & Disinfection Controls Adequate hand washing facilities are available and/or hand sanitizer will be provided. Instructors, volunteer and participants are required to wash/sanitize their hands when they arrive and leave the program location. Do not share equipment. Instructor, volunteer and participants are encourage to bring their own equipment. If Greater Vernon Recreation Services equipment is used for a program, the Instructor/Volunteer will be responsible for ensuring that equipment is cleaned before and after use, with the provide disinfectant in a spray bottle and paper towels to wipe down equipment. The following product will be used for cleaning and disinfection control:

• Use of Oxivir Plus Concentrate Diluted 1part:40 parts Oxivir DIN 02403684

• Use of Virex 256 Dilution 1:256 DIN 02241502

• Paper towel/Hand towels.

The disinfectant and paper towels for Instructors/Volunteers will be located in the activity space for ease of access and use.

September 16

2020

“Through Recreation we improve quality of life.”

APPENDIX C: SIGNAGE EXAMPLES

8

8 Government of Canada Public Health “Reduce the Spread of COVID-19. Wash your Hands.”