Toronto is suspending indoor group classes and sports programs due to rising COVID-19 numbers
TORONTO, ON., Oct. 9, 2020 — The City of Toronto announced today that in response to recommendations from Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Eileen de Villa as of Tuesday October 13, 2020 it is suspending all indoor group classes in gyms and indoor sports team activities due to rising COVID-19 infections.
Activities that will suspended include hockey games and scrimmages, dance, and learn to swim and skate as well as all indoor permits for social gatherings, sports and fitness.
Also as of Tuesday, the City of Toronto is also closing its two conservatories at Allan Gardens Conservatory and Centennial Park Conservatory.
“We are doing everything we can as a City government to limit the spread of COVID-19,” said Mayor John Tory. “I know that the suspension of these indoor recreation programs will be frustrating for those who were looking forward to these activities. I have asked City staff to work towards developing supplementary outdoor activities that people can take part in safely this fall and winter,” said Tory.
Effective Tuesday, October 13, the following recreation programs and services are suspended:
- registered and instructional programs such as learn to skate and swim programs, dance, group fitness and wellness programs
- hockey games and scrimmages
- drop-in sports programs other than leisure and lane swim and leisure skate
- table tennis, billiards, foosball
- access to the City’s two conservatories
- indoor permits for social gatherings and sport games/group fitness.
The City says these programs are deemed high-risk for COVID-19 transmission due to being indoors, where the physical nature of the activity results in close contact and where masks cannot be worn.
“Right now, we all need to do our part to fight a surge of new COVID-19 cases in our city. Physical activity is a cornerstone of good health and we’ve seen first-hand how important it is for people to have access to recreation, but our rising case counts make indoor group activities unsafe at this time,” Board of Health Chair Joe Cressy said in the release.
“While I know this is disappointing news for many families, it’s important that we continue to find ways to exercise and explore our city, through alternatives outdoors where people can safely maintain physical distancing,” added Cressy.
It is important to note that not all indoor programs have been cancelled. The City will continue to operate the following programs with capacity restrictions and other health measures in place:
- leisure swim and skate
- lane swimming
- fitness centres
- arts and general interest instruction
- After-school Recreation Care
- December camps for children
- drop-in youth programs that do not include sports
- indoor athletic training permits with no game play, including hockey training
- permits for outdoor sports.
Also, all the City’s outdoor amenities in parks and green spaces, such as sports fields, skate parks, trails, BMX parks, tennis courts, basketball courts, outdoor fitness equipment, picnic shelters and playgrounds, remain open.
An overview of recreation service impacts is available at www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/.
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