Email icon Back to Search

Township of West Lincoln

MEDIA RELEASE

Update #48 West Lincoln Response to COVID-19

Township Implementing Additional Safety Measures at Recreation Facilities

For Immediate Release: December 17, 2021

The Township of West Lincoln is preparing to implement additional safety measures, as required by Provincial Regulations and Public Health guidelines, to protect citizens from COVID-19 and the highly transmissible Omicron variant. Safeguarding the health of staff and members of the public remains the Township’s highest priority.

On December 15, 2021, the Provincial Government announced that it would be introducing a 50 per cent capacity limit to indoor areas of certain venues with a usual capacity of 1,000 or more. Effective Saturday, December 18, 2021, at 12:01 a.m., this measure is being taken to reduce opportunities for close contact in high-risk indoor settings with large crowds and when face coverings/masks are not always worn. These new rules and regulations are outlined in Ontario Regulation 364/20.

Furthermore, the Niagara Region’s Acting Medical Officer of Health issued a letter of instruction under Section 2, Schedule 1 of Ontario Regulation 364/20 under the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act on December 2, 2021. This letter of instruction effectively requires owners, operators, and persons responsible for indoor areas of sports, athletic and recreational fitness facilities to comply with additional safety measures.

The following additional measures will be required at Township recreation facilities, including the West Lincoln Community Centre, Caistor Community Centre, Silverdale Community Centre, and Wellandport Community Centre:

Effective December 20, 2021, proof of vaccination will be required for youth aged 12 and up who are participating in organized sports at recreational facilities, unless they have a valid medical exception.

Beginning January 4, 2022, the only acceptable form of proof of vaccination (or proof of medical or clinical trial exemption) will be the Province’s enhanced vaccination certificate QR code. The QR code along with valid ID can be presented at the time of entry, either electronically or in paper format. The QR code will be scanned each time a patron enters the facility, as vaccination information is not being recorded or stored.

To access the QR code, log in to the Provincial online booking portal at https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca using the information on your green photo health (OHIP) card, your date of birth, and the postal code associated with your health card. To support anybody who does not have access to a computer or smart phone, Staff at West Lincoln’s Libraries are kindly available to assist with printing QR codes.

Beginning Monday, December 20, 2021, all Ontarians aged 18 or older are eligible to receive their booster shot of a COVID-19 vaccination, as long as it has been at least three months since they received their second dose.

Those looking to receive their first, second or booster dose can visit www.niagararegion.ca/health/covid-19/vaccination/ or call 1-888-505-6074 and press 7 for more information about the COVID-19 vaccine and upcoming vaccination clinics.

For notifications and important updates, remember to follow the Township of West Lincoln on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @TWPWestLincoln.

Quotes:

“After starting to feel a small degree of normalcy, we are once again faced with quickly growing numbers of new COVID-19 cases and another variant of concern. The Ontario Government and Public Health authorities have once again deemed it necessary to put additional measures in place to try to keep us all healthy. We may not like them, but we CAN do this, West Lincoln! Please be kind to one another as we once again face change.”

Cheryl Ganann

Councillor

“Additional safety requirements due to rising case numbers may not be the news we wanted to hear heading into the holiday season, but we have been here before, and we will get through this together. As a Township, we will continue to comply with all requirements and actively do our part to protect one another and our community as a whole. Thank you all for your continued cooperation.”

Bev Hendry

Chief Administrative Officer

Media Contact:

Beth Audet

Communications Specialist

baudet@westlincoln.ca