Message from Sport Manitoba on COVID-19

 

We recognize the many hardships that COVID-19 has created for the sport community and we appreciate your commitment to making this return to sport safe and responsible.

Our role is to encourage people to follow public health guidelines so we can avoid overwhelming the healthcare system, which could lead to further lockdowns.

There have been a number of scenarios and variations of implementations of the public health orders and our goal with this communication is to clarify our interpretation of the orders for your sport. We are still seeking clarification on some matters and will keep you informed as we receive updates.
Vaccination Status

Anyone U18 who is participating in sport, including players, coaches, officials, can do so unvaccinated and without being accompanied by a fully vaccinated parent/guardian.

Indoor sporting events

Anyone 18+ who is entering a sport facility and/or participating in an indoor sport event is required to provide proof of full vaccination.

Anyone U18 who is entering an indoor facility to spectate a sport, does not need to provide proof of vaccination or be accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Ticketed sporting events

Anyone 12+ who is entering a facility to spectate a ticketed sport event, where admissions are collected, is required to provide proof of full vaccination. All events that have gate admission (indoor and outdoor sport events) are subject to Order 16.

Proof of Vaccination

Valid proof of vaccination includes only either of the following combinations:

  • QR code + Government-issued identification (driver’s license, passport, or Manitoba Health Card)
  • Physical immunization card + Government-issued identification (driver’s license, passport, or Manitoba Health Card)
  • Province of Manitoba Immunization record + Government-issued identification (driver’s license, passport, or Manitoba Health Card)

You can ask for proof of vaccination as they enter your facility/event/game, but you cannot copy or store proof of vaccination.

Here is a sample of the current, acceptable immunization records participants from other provinces and territories may provide as proof of vaccination: https://manitoba.ca/asset_library/en/covidvaccine/covid19-immunization-record-samples.pdf

Participants who have received a vaccine outside of Canada should contact Public Health to determine an appropriate course of action to obtain a valid proof of vaccination.
Confirmation of Vaccination

In sport, individuals who coordinate programming, as well as facility owners, share the responsibility to confirm that participants/spectators 18+ years show proof of vaccination.

Scenario: basketball team game at Sport Manitoba facility

Responsible: basketball team coach/manager, as well as facility scheduler, are responsible for confirming all 18+ participants show proof of vaccination. Sport Manitoba facility attendances will confirm 18+ spectators show proof of vaccination.

Proof of Vaccine Exemptions

We have received confirmation that no other government-issued card or document, including a doctor’s note, will qualify as proof of exemption.

Public Health has asked us to communicate that there is an exceedingly small number of medical conditions that would exempt someone from being immunized as well as the following:

Based on the guidance of the vaccine implementation task force’s medical advisory committee, people in one of three situations may be eligible for a temporary or permanent medical exemption to vaccination. This must be reviewed by a specialist physician and then submitted to the Vaccine Implementation Task Force. It includes people who:

  • had a severe reaction after the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine (e.g. myocarditis, Guillain-Barré syndrome);
  • are receiving treatment that affects their ability to mount an immune response, meaning vaccination must be timed carefully with their treatment schedule (e.g. receiving immunocompromising treatment after a transplant, certain types of cancer treatments); or
  • had a severe allergy or anaphylactic reaction to a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine or its components that cannot be managed by the Health Sciences Centre Allergy Clinic.

The process to submit medical exemptions will be finalized as soon as possible, along with updated clinical guidance for healthcare professionals. The province is also developing a way to ensure individuals with a valid medical exemption are able to access the same benefits as those with an immunization card. This work is expected to be completed in the coming weeks.

In the interim, until this process is finalized, you should refuse access to those 18+ who cannot show proof of vaccination.

Testing

The current health orders state that all 18+ participants need to provide proof of vaccination.  Providing a negative test result is not permitted in the order as an acceptable exemption

Facilities with restaurants/lounges

U18 participants can participate in sport inside licensed premises without proof of vaccination. However, should they stay in the restaurant/lounge outside of participating in sport, proof of vaccination is required.

Interprovincial Travel 

14 days of self-isolation (quarantine) is required for all individuals returning to or coming to Manitoba from all jurisdictions unless the individual is exempt in the order from quarantine. Exemptions include Manitobans who can show proof of vaccination and children who are not eligible for the vaccine based on age, if all individuals they travelled with are fully immunized.
Complete details are available here: https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/prs/orders/index.html#travel-self-isolation

Facilities with restaurants/lounges

U18 participants can participate in sport inside licensed premises without proof of vaccination. However, should they stay in the restaurant/lounge outside of participating in sport, proof of vaccination is required.

Interprovincial Travel 

14 days of self-isolation (quarantine) is required for all individuals returning to or coming to Manitoba from all jurisdictions unless the individual is exempt in the order from quarantine. Exemptions include Manitobans who can show proof of vaccination and children who are not eligible for the vaccine based on age, if all individuals they travelled with are fully immunized.

Complete details are available here: https://www.gov.mb.ca/covid19/prs/orders/index.html#travel-self-isolation

Spectator Capacity Indoors

As proof of vaccination is required for indoor sport facilities, no spectator capacity restrictions apply.

We will continue to update you should we receive any further clarifications.

Thank you,

Janet McMahon | President & CEO
Sport Manitoba