OLDS — As of late last week, officials at the town of Olds had some information regarding how that province’s latest COVID-19 restrictions will affect the community, but they were still trying to get more details.
On its website under Coronavirus (COVID-19) updates, the town lists steps businesses can take to calculate what that means for their particular business.
The site also has a chart listing the new restrictions and how they apply in various areas. As of late last week, Olds was listed as being in an enhanced area.
As a result, the following restrictions apply:
No social gatherings in any setting, a maximum of 10 people in outdoor gatherings as well as weddings and funerals – no receptions allowed, no festivals or events.
Students in grades 7-12 will learn at home from Nov. 30-Jan. 11. Elementary students up to Grade 6 will also be doing their learning at home after the Christmas break until Jan. 11.
Working from home should be considered wherever possible.
In places of worship, attendance is to be cut back to one-third of normal attendance and those attending must wear masks.
In an email, chief administrative officer Michael Merritt noted that as of Nov. 27, businesses are now restricted to 25 per cent occupancy.
During a special council meeting Nov. 25, Olds Fire Department Chief Justin Andrew said his department was still working out how the 25 per cent utilization rule will work, depending on each type of business.
“For most commercial establishments where you see small retail space or commercial strip malls, this number has very small impact, because I believe most businesses are operating under a reduced premise already. So where there is a substantial change would be the large box stores,” he said.
Andrew said the fire department has received “a flood of requests” from local businesses about how the new rules will affect them.
“We are corresponding with the former fire commissioner’s office or Public Service Alberta to implement this,” Andrew said.
“They were caught somewhat unprepared for all of the questions that would come with it,” he said, adding those officials were working hard to get the answers for him.
"Right now we’re just taking the names and contacts that are requesting this from us and then we’ll respond to them with the best information we have as quick as we have it," he said.
On Friday, Nov. 27, Community services director Doug Wagstaff announced several changes at the Sportsplex and Aquatic Centre that took effect immediately.
He warned that all operations and bookings at those facilities are subject to change, pending Alberta Health Services specific guidelines or Alberta Health regulation changes regarding the public health orders.
Aquatic Centre
• Pre-registration for all activities is required. Patrons are asked to book online at olds.ca/aquatic-centre or call the facility at 403-556-7665 (POOL).
• No change in hours of operation.
• Group classes and group lessons are cancelled. The time slots ae being replaced with additional lane swimming and family leisure swims.
• Lane swim is one swimmer per lane.
• Tot swim available for one family to register, restricted to participants who are all members of the same household.
• Open activity swim is one swimmer per lane (to do as they please lane swim, swim along the bottom, etc but must maintain being in the assigned lane).
• Family Leisure swim is sections of the pool, one family per section (as it has been since re-opening) restricted to participants who are all members of the same household.
• Swim Club sessions are cancelled.
Sportsplex
• The Sportsplex is open for scheduled individual sport activity appointments only.
• Until further notice Sportsplex hours of operation are 6:15 a.m. – 8 p.m.; ice sessions are available from 6:30 a.m.– 7:30 p.m. To book the Sportsplex call 403-507-4844 or email [email protected] Sessions will be booked in one hour slots.
• Users with regular bookings at the Sportsplex can schedule ice sessions. New customers from outside the Olds recreation area are not permitted.
• A family skate may be booked in advance. it is restricted to participants who are all members of the same household, and reside in the Olds recreation area.
• Users booking the ice are responsible for trace tracking records and to comply with the COVID-19 general relaunch guidance regulations and all other applicable Alberta Health guidelines developed to support sport, physical activity and recreation.
• All scheduled activity must adhere to an individual one-to-one instructor to participant ratio (1:1) or with participants who are all members of the same household to a maximum of three (including the instructor).
• Sportsplex access is restricted to patrons associated with scheduled activities.
• Restricted lower level access to participants only.
• Mask wearing is required in the Sportsplex.
• Areas available to be scheduled: Auxiliary entire ice surface with rooms 3 & 4;
– Main north blue line in, with rooms 1&2;
– Main south blue line in, with rooms 5/6/7/8.
• If two groups are booked during the same time slot the main centre ice section is not to be utilized. The neutral zone is the dividing area to keep the two groups apart.
