Council to consider tightening vaccine rules at city facilities during special meeting

Regina’s city council is to hold a special meeting Monday morning, when it will consider broadening the vaccine requirement for the public to access municipal facilities.

Administration is recommending that the city require everybody over the age of 12 to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test “as a requirement to access all programs and services within City facilities identified in Appendix A,” says the meeting agenda.

These facilities would include major recreation centres, indoor arenas, community centres and the Regina Floral Conservatory.

Libraries and the transit information centre would be exempt. As well, the requirement would not apply if somebody enters a city facility to use the washroom or use vaccination clinics, heating and cooling stations, food security or other services to meet basic needs.

If council approves, the changes would take effect on Nov. 1.

“In order to support the expansion, wherever possible, security personnel would be in place at City facilities to confirm proof of COVID-19 vaccination or negative test upon entry. In the event security personnel are not available, City staff would be redeployed,” administration says.

Proof of vaccination would still include wallet cards, a copy of the MySaskHealthRecord vaccine certificate (printed or digital), a QR code or possibly official documents from other governments.

Those without proof of vaccination will need a negative rapid or PCR test from within the previous 72 hours.

Currently, the city has implemented the provincial government’s public health order from Oct. 1.

That order requires proof of vaccination or a negative test at city facilities but only for select activities.

At major recreation centres, the rule applies to visitors aged 12 and older but not for those under 18 participating in sports or recreational activities.

At community centres, the requirement applies to fitness activities.

For City Hall, proof of vaccination or a negative test is needed to use the cafeteria.

At arenas, the rules apply to ticketed sporting events meaning places where GST has been charged on the price of the ticket.

Administration says it has been working with the Saskatchewan Health Authority to monitor the COVID situation. It notes the province has the highest rate of cases per capita and the lowest vaccination rate in the country.

It says while key metrics like case numbers, test numbers, test positivity rate, reproductive value, hospitalizations and vaccinations have improved in Regina since late September, “the risk remains high that COVID transmission remains uncontrolled across Saskatchewan with approximately 25 per cent of eligible residents remaining to be fully vaccinated.”