COVID-19 Impact on 2021 Season

[Bitters]

Hello everyone,

As I'm sure you've heard, Alberta has moved back to a 'Step 1' restriction scenario to curb the climbing COVID-19 cases. Both Step 1 and Step 2 involve limiting outdoor gatherings to 10 people, with a 2 meter spacing. These restrictions directly impact our ability to host autoslalom events. Therefore, we will be discussing how to proceed with the 2021 SASC season during our monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 13. If you are interested in attending the meeting, please send me a PM with your email address and I will include an invite to the Microsoft Teams event.

For reference: https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx

Edit:

I've combed through the entirety of the posted restrictions, including the Winter guidelines. Below, I've flagged where our events may possibly be classified and put not applicable (n/a) where there would be no reasonable way to interpret that section as relevant to our events. The below will serve as the basis for discussion during our next meeting.

Gathering restrictions;

Indoor social gatherings - n/a
Outdoor social gatherings (this would indicate a no-go)

Outdoor social gatherings are limited to 10 people maximum and must not have an indoor component.

Backyard gatherings that require movement in/out of homes are not permitted.
Attendees should remain distanced at all times and follow all public health measures.

Out-of-town travel and visitors - n/a
Weddings and funerals - n/a
Places of worship - n/a

Business restrictions;

Retail - n/a
Restaurant, bars, pubs, lounges and cafes - n/a
Entertainment and recreation facilities (this would indicate a no-go)
All entertainment businesses and entities must remain closed, including:

Casinos, bingo halls, gaming centres
Racing centres, horse tracks, raceways
Bowling alleys, pool halls
Nightclubs
Art galleries and museums
Science and interpretive centres
Amusement and water parks
Children’s play centres and indoor playgrounds
Movie theatres, auditoria and concert halls

Banquet halls, community halls, conference centers and hotels - n/a
Personal and wellness services - n/a
Health, social and professional services - n/a
Indoor fitness - n/a
Outdoor sport and recreation activities (this would be the loose definition that applies to us)

Group activities
Adult group physical activities, including team sports, fitness classes and training sessions, are prohibited or restricted across Alberta. See guidance for outdoor winter recreation.

Outdoor team sports and group activities where 2 metre distancing cannot be maintained at all times (such as shinny, tag and pick-up hockey) are prohibited.
Outdoor group physical activity must be limited to 10 people or fewer.
Keeping the activity to members of the same household is strongly recommended.
Members of different households must maintain 2 metre distancing at all times.

Outdoor recreation amenities can be open to public access unless specifically closed by public health order.
This includes outdoor skating rinks, sledding hills and Nordic ski areas.
More than 10 people may use an outdoor recreation amenity at the same time (for example, public access to a local rink) as long as physical distancing is maintained between households.

Youth and collegiate sport and recreation activities - n/a
Performance activities - n/a
Working form home - n/a
Public health orders and exemptions - n/a

Now all the above is effective April 6, however an Outdoor Recreation guide that was published December 2020 and note guidance on:

Ski Hills - n/a
Other Outdoor Recreation Amenities (this would be the loose definition that applies to us)

Outdoor recreation amenities can be open to public access unless
specifically closed by public health order.

• Examples of these amenities include, but are not limited to, outdoor
  skating rinks, sledding hills, Nordic ski areas, ice or glacier walks,
  hiking trails and golf courses for cross-country ski access.
  Operators of smaller amenities with clear boundaries (e.g., skating
  rinks) should post capacity limits at the amenity entrance. Appendix A
  provides instructions for calculating skating rink capacity limits

Gatherings (this would indicate a no-go)

Private social gatherings involving people from different households are
prohibited in any indoor or outdoor location in the province.

• Facility operators should post signage reminding patrons that gathering
  of non-household members is not permitted and to maintain 2 metres’
  physical distance from persons not from the same household when
  standing or seated.

Lessons, Training, Sport and Performances (this would indicate a no-go)

Group lessons are permitted outdoors with up to 10 people. Participants
who are not part of the same household must observe 2 metres of
physical distance.

• Outdoor team sports and performance activities must also be limited to
  10 people or fewer and 2 metre physical distancing between participants
  must be maintained at all times.
  One-on-one instruction for sports and performance activities can proceed
  indoors and outdoors but may not occur in facilities that are closed to
  public access.

Transportation - n/a
Festivals and Events - n/a

I see two ways of approaching this decision - can or should we host an event?

In terms of whether we can depends largely on how the government would define what we are...

• We don't host our events on an outright race track, despite race tracks being noted as a prohibited event.
• In a similar perspective, I don't think we can rely on being an outdoor amenity like a skating rink. If we were, then how are we not considered a racetrack as well
• Social/private gatherings could apply to us. We are an organized club, not a group of random individuals going on a hike. Such a definition would specifically prohibit us from hosting an event
• General limitations of outdoor events of 10 people is not a good bar for us considering our events usually clear 50 or more
• In all cases, a physical distance of 2 meters is required and logistically creates a nightmare in grid to maintain

In terms of should we host an event...

• As a club, I don't think it's wise to appear as playing fast and loose with government restrictions, particularly as our reputation can impact our ability to secure future venues
• Cases in southern Alberta are rising rapidly even with adherence to masks. From an ethical stance, an event generates more risk of exposing our membership to COVID than delaying the season
• Logistics planning during enhanced COVID measures (smaller run groups for more space in grid, enforcing spacing during course walks and the rest of the event, proper distancing for registration, etc.) create a material burden for the volunteers and planners

Lastly, if you violate a public health order, you may be subject to a $1,000 fine. Additionally, you can be prosecuted for up to $100,000 for a first offense. All it takes is one person to report, and it's not like we would be difficult to find. A significant fine would wipe out the entirety of the club's financial assets.

While some of you may have personal opinions on the pandemic, or a personal risk tolerance for engaging in activities yourself, this decision will be made in light of what is best for the club.

[jayz]

The restrictions are ambiguous.

We can go to ski hills and stand in the lift lines with a 100 people and it's fine as long as we distance and wear masks in the line.  The same applies to:

"Outdoor recreation amenities can be open to public access unless
specifically closed by public health order.
o Examples of these amenities include, but are not limited to, outdoor
skating rinks, sledding hills, Nordic ski areas, ice or glacier walks,
hiking trails and golf courses for cross-country ski access."

The autocross events are not a "Social gathering" so don't seem to apply to the 10 person rule if we prohibit social gathering at the events.

We are not a "Group physical activity" if we can social distance. They appear to be talking about team sports or activities where people have to have physical contact.

We are not using a "race track", and that appears to be lumped into Venues for phase 3 where there would be spectators.

Although Golf courses are not listed anywhere for golf, (they do list them for cross country skiing) I assume they will be treated like Ski Hills are and be open for Golf playing when the are ready to play.

Technically our events could be more like Skiing and Golf, and as long as we are social distancing and wearing masks outside our car, I don't how they could impose restrictions on them if there is no person to person contact required.

Personally, I would proceed with the events. If they sent someone out to inspect and we were distancing and wearing masks, there is nothing being done that would be within their rules. The worst thing that could happen is a ticket, but all of these tickets that are being challenged are being postponed into 2022 or thrown out.
 
 

[99GLS21]

I'm with Jay on this one!

[AaronM]

I'm with Jay on this one!

I agree, no reason no proceed as long as we’re distanced from each other.
We’ll probably have to compromise on the ride alongs but I don’t see any other reason no to do this.
In my eyes our events can be much safer than walking down the street downtown or sitting on a patio which is allowed.

[PedalFaster]

Independent of anyone's opinion on the seriousness of COVID or the validity of AHS's restrictions, I submit that it's a bad idea to openly discuss intentionally circumventing the restrictions on a public forum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBdGOrcUEg8 (NSFW)

[Bitters]

I've updated the original post with more information.

At this point, any further discussion related to this decision should occur on Tuesday.

[jayz]

Independent of anyone's opinion on the seriousness of COVID or the validity of AHS's restrictions, I submit that it's a bad idea to openly discuss intentionally circumventing the restrictions on a public forum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBdGOrcUEg8 (NSFW)

What restriction is trying to be circumvented?  What rule says autocross cannot proceed? 

Golf courses are opening up this weekend.  There are no restrictions being circumvented.

[Reijo]

I'm with Jay on this one!

I agree, no reason no proceed as long as we’re distanced from each other.
We’ll probably have to compromise on the ride alongs but I don’t see any other reason no to do this.
In my eyes our events can be much safer than walking down the street downtown or sitting on a patio which is allowed.

I am with you guys.  In fact, I have often said autox is very much like skiing.  Both are individual sports which do not involve a team (other than some past team autoxes but those are special events not run every year) nor is this a spectator sport.

One thing I noted about the information above is that restrictions are for group gatherings (esp. indoors) and for specatator sports.  Our insurance tells us we are NOT a spectator sport unlike road racing etc.  These are something that could be emphasized with government/health officals.  And, like Jay mentioned, this is very little different than golf and skiing and separation can be easily maintained with some minor modifications to event procedures (like no passengers except from the same household or if you work with them).  Some common sense should be used ... but sometimes it is not so common.   

[Type_Yarr]

Thanks Jared, for posting such a great summary of the current restrictions and the considerations that have to be taken into account by the club.

In addition to everything already said, another issue is that the insurance could be invalid, or would not be issued in the first place, if the club’s operations are not in compliance with any laws, rules, or regulations. The club cannot host events without insurance, period.

It’s fine to be frustrated with the inconsistent logic of the restrictions, but the Health Orders are legally enforceable under the Health Act.

I’d like to remind everyone that the club is run by volunteers who should not be expected to have to risk personal liability for their decisions, and even more of their time dealing with potential complaints, fines, and headaches. It’s completely different from businesses that are willfully ignoring restrictions to make a point or generate some sort of revenue to keep the lights on.

[J- FST]

I think another major point to consider is our partners that provide the venues to us. Would they be ok with an event running and what kind of negative feedback will they get from the local community if we do? I know how hard the club worked to secure these locations and would hate to see them lost from us trying to skirt/ bend the rules.
Once this Is all behind us I hope to attend events at these great locations for many more years to come.

[jayz]

Because there seems to be debate on how the restrictions apply to our events if we implemented social distancing, Alberta Health Services should be asked and if they say its okay, then there should be no issue.

The club can submit a question here and provide as many details as possible related to the event. This is for questions and complaints.  You can select “General information about events/activities”

https://ephisahs.microsoftcrmportals.com/create-case/

[rx7racerca]

With the province's accelerated reopen schedule and rejigged (much more generous) guidelines for when to proceed to each stage of the reopening, I'm guessing that it can't be more than late June that we could have events.

Stage 2, which could be by June 15, allows outdoor events of up to 150 people. And if we're being realistic, Stage 2 is going to be by June 15, in order for Stage 3 to kick in ahead of Stampede, which is pretty clearly what's driving the reopen schedule now. Whether or not you think that's sound public health policy, that seems good news for us running events soon - and lest that sound negative, I think it's pretty safe for us, being mostly widely scattered outside all day. So as long as we're playing by the AHS/AB gov't rules, I'm happy to move ahead
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-covid-coronavirus-may-26-1.6040591

[Cagare]

With the province's accelerated reopen schedule and rejigged (much more generous) guidelines for when to proceed to each stage of the reopening, I'm guessing that it can't be more than late June that we could have events.

Stage 2, which could be by June 15, allows outdoor events of up to 150 people. And if we're being realistic, Stage 2 is going to be by June 15, in order for Stage 3 to kick in ahead of Stampede, which is pretty clearly what's driving the reopen schedule now. Whether or not you think that's sound public health policy, that seems good news for us running events soon - and lest that sound negative, I think it's pretty safe for us, being mostly widely scattered outside all day. So as long as we're playing by the AHS/AB gov't rules, I'm happy to move ahead
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/alberta-covid-coronavirus-may-26-1.6040591

Yes, I think by the most recent schedule the first event would be June 26/27 after June 15. Which works out timing wise cause you will know at least a week before those events what the rules are and can get the registration up.

Hopefully things go smoothly over the next few weeks.

[GJMills]

Are we considered an “outdoor public gathering” or an “outdoor social gathering”?

- Outdoor public gatherings (concerts/festivals) - up to 150 people

- Outdoor social gatherings - up to 20 people with distancing (indoor social gatherings still not permitted)

[PedalFaster]

Not quite the same thing, but Castrol Raceway in Edmonton is saying that it got permission for "automobile racing":

https://www.facebook.com/groups/19068689376/permalink/10160909196714377/

Calling track days racing is a pet peeve of mine, but whatever.