Re-Opening Update (February 16, 2021)

The Government of Ontario released their COVID-19 Response Framework to help keep the Province safe and open on November 3, 2020. Within the framework, the government outlines targeted measures for various industries. The gradual approach puts certain public health unit regions into different levels of alert categories: Green-Prevent, Yellow-Protect, Orange-Restrict, Red-Control, and Lockdown.

The targeted, incremental, and responsive public health measures have the intent to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Please refer to Appendix A for the Public Health Unit Region Classifications. In addition to the provincial health measures, some municipalities and local medical officers of health have added their own regional restrictions or requirements. Please note that all club operators must independently identify the regional health authority in which they are located to determine which alert category they must operate under. Check your local public health unit or local municipality's website for details. Where there are regional restrictions or requirements, all provincial restrictions also apply.

The following is a guideline for how to deliver and offer badminton programs based on the measures announced by Premier Ford.

Green-Prevent

• Indoor in-person badminton instruction/training permitted with a maximum of 50 people
• Access permitted to areas with weights and exercise equipment with a maximum of 50 people
• Limit of 50 people per room basis only if operating in compliance with a plan approved by the Chief Medical Officer of Health Office
• Singles and doubles play is permitted with no contact and with a maximum of 50 people
• Required to use microphone by instructors wherever needed to avoid shouting
• Limit on volume of music (if used) to conversation levels

Yellow-Protect

- Measures from previous level and:

• Face coverings required except when on court
• Fitness classes, fitness training sessions, and access is permitted to areas with weights and exercise equipment with increased spacing between patrons to 3m
• Indoor in-person instruction/training and indoor recreational singles and doubles badminton play is permitted with a maximum of 10 people per room. There should be no contact during instruction, training, nor play
• Require contact information for all patrons entering the facilities
• Require appointments for entry, one reservation per group on each court
• Recommend that each club operator have a safety plan with health and safety protocols in place

Orange-Restrict

- Measures from previous levels and:

• Indoor capacity at a maximum of 50 people in all combined spaces
• Require screening of patrons including spectators (e.g., in the form of a questionnaire)
• No spectators permitted with an exemption for parent/guardian supervision of children
• Recommend a limit to the duration of stay

Red-Control

- Measures from previous levels and:

• Indoor in-person singles and doubles badminton instruction/training permitted with a maximum of 10 people
• Games, scrimmage, sparing will be permitted for singles training sessions only
• There must not be any games, scrimmage, nor sparing for doubles training sessions; doubles training sessions may only be strictly drills
• Access permitted to areas with weights or exercise equipment with a maximum of 10 people
• Indoor recreational singles badminton play is permitted with a maximum of 10 people within each room
• Indoor recreational doubles badminton play is not permitted
• There must not be any contact during training nor play

Lockdown:

- Full restriction on all indoor badminton operations, programs, and recreational play

To help the badminton clubs better understand the framework, Badminton Ontario is circulating the attached infographic below as an additional resource.  This was created in consultation of the attached MOH COVID-19 Response Framework (pg 14) as published by the Government of Ontario, along with O.Regs 363/20 (640/20), 364/20 (642/20), and 263/20 (641/20) released on November 6, 2020.  

Badminton Ontario also reminds all member clubs and registered individuals, that all activities must adhere to Federal and Provincial (Ontario) legislation, as well as any municipal bylaws and facility rules in place related to COVID-19 physical distancing and public or private gatherings. Failure to abide by these federal, provincial, or municipal requirements may result in legal prosecution by government as well as denial of insurance coverage and possible disciplinary measures by Badminton Ontario.

The only persons permitted to use the facility are athletes who are members of the affiliated club for the 2020-2021 season as identified by the PSO beginning in September 2020; this may also include those who are members of the affiliated club for the 2019-2020 season where their individual club membership extends into the 2020-2021 season.

Ontario is committed to ensuring our athletes play safe when it is safe to play.

Badminton Ontario will continue to provide updates as part of our commitment to a safe return to play and training for all.