City to help volunteers check vax status at arenas

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This article was published 10/11/2021 (1657 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

City staff will soon check immunization cards at municipally operated arenas, though at peak hours only, after complaints from volunteers who had been tasked with that job.

All adults are required to provide proof of immunization against COVID-19 to enter 11 city-run arenas that are now open for hockey and other ice sports. Starting Friday, city staff will conduct the card checks from about 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekends, though specific hours may vary.

Permit holders that use the facilities, such as hockey clubs, will still be responsible to check vaccination status beyond those hours.

“(We’re) stepping up with city resources during those peak hours. The efforts of volunteers are still going to be required and we’re obviously incredibly grateful for the efforts… but there was a gap that we realized was occurring so the city is stepping up to backfill that gap,” said Mayor Brian Bowman.

Some coaches and hockey club leaders have recently lobbied the city to take over the duty entirely, arguing the current system leaves volunteers at risk of public health fines and hostile encounters.

The staffing change is based on complaints that some arena users weren’t actually checking for proof of immunization at the door, the city said.

While volunteers will still be responsible to check immunization status at some times, the city stressed its focus was never meant to penalize volunteers for honest errors.

“We have no interest in handing out tickets for someone who is attempting to operate within the confines of the public health orders. If there were some who were deliberately choosing not to comply… those may be the kind of situations where we might have to discuss enforcement,” said Michael Jack, the city’s chief administrative officer.

The city also plans to add “arena ambassadors” to educate those who have permits to use city-run arenas on the public health aspects of that agreement.

The city didn’t immediately devote staff to check immunization cards because the typical city-run arena has just one employee to resurface ice and maintain the building, a staffing model meant to keep rental costs low, Jack said.

“At arenas, the service we offer is really the building itself. In practical terms within the existing complement, within the existing budget, there simply wasn’t anyone available to then be providing that additional service,” he said.

The city doesn’t know how much the new program will cost, but doesn’t expect to raise rental rates to cover it, Jack said.

As of Nov. 15, Winnipeggers will also need to be fully vaccinated to enter the city hall council building.

That date matches a deadline for 5,500 front-line city workers, such as police and paramedics, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. As of Wednesday, officials said 94 per cent of those staff members have now complied with the requirement.

The city expects less than 350 staff will choose frequent COVID-19 testing as an alternative to vaccination.

While some employees who aren’t fully vaccinated could be redeployed to different jobs or put on leave, that number is expected to be “relatively low,” Jack said.

The city’s definition of full vaccination will continue to be based on two shots for now, though officials are reviewing a Wednesday announcement that all Manitoba adults are now eligible for third doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga