Section 22 Order and Instructions

Effective October 31, 2021, there is an instruction to owners/operators of facilities located in the City of London and Middlesex County where organized sports are played and/or practised coming into effect.

Additionally, there is currently one Section 22 Order in place for the City of London and Middlesex County to address identified COVID-19-related safety risks that exist in the community.

Instruction to Sports and Recreation Facilities

Updated October 14, 2021

This instruction is to owners/operators of facilities located in the City of London and Middlesex County where organized sports are played and/or practised. Effective 12:01 a.m. on October 31, 2021, and until further notice, all owners, operators, and persons responsible for facilities used for sport and recreational fitness activities within the City of London and the County of Middlesex are instructed to:

1. Require each person, age 12 years and older, who attends the indoor area of the Facility for the purpose of (a) actively participating in organized sports, (b) coaching, officiating organized sports, or volunteering, or (c) spectating at organized sports, to provide identification and proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or a valid medical exemption at point of entry.
2. Develop and implement mandatory vaccination policies for facility staff, contractors and/or subcontractors and volunteers that follow best practices developed in partnership with Middlesex-London Health Unit.
3. Comply with all other requirements under the Reopening Ontario Act and its regulations that apply to the Facility. This includes, but is not limited to, observing reduced capacity limits, screening upon entry, maintenance of physical distancing within the Facility, and ensuring that masks or face coverings are worn when required.

For clarity, the requirement to show proof of vaccination does not apply to a person who is entering an indoor area solely for the following purposes:

1. to use a washroom;
2. to access an outdoor area that can only be accessed through an indoor route;
3. while paying for an order;
4. to purchase admission; or
5. to respond to an emergency or other urgent health and safety concern.

Additionally, an eight-week grace period after their birthday will be extended to those born after 2009 such that, once eligible, they will have time to get both doses of vaccine.

What counts as an organized sport?

“Organized Sport(s)” means sport and recreational fitness activities including, but not limited to, sports leagues, organized pick-up sports, fitness classes, soccer, hockey, basketball, volleyball, dance classes, gymnastics, martial arts and swimming classes, or as otherwise described in the Ministry of Health’s Proof of Vaccination Guidance for Businesses and Organizations under the Reopening Ontario Act.

Section 22 Order for Food and Drink Establishments

Download Full Order

Amended October 26, 2021

In order to align with the Provincial government’s lifting of capacity limits in settings where proof of vaccination is required, the Middlesex-London Health Unit has amended the Section 22 Class Order pertaining to food and drink establishments. Effective immediately, the amended Order removes the physical distancing requirements of at least two metres or by impermeable barrier such as plexiglass for eating and drinking at designated tables. Requirements remaining in effect under the amended Order are that food and drink are only to be consumed in designated areas and any patron who attends such an establishment must wear a mask or face covering at all times, except when they are consuming food or beverages while in a designated, stationary area.

This Section 22 Order is to all persons in the City of London or County of Middlesex who operate any establishment that serves food and/or drink pursuant to a licence issued by the Municipality and/or Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. The following requirements come into effect 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday October 27, 2021.

1. Any patron in attendance at any establishment that serves food and/or drink pursuant to a licence issued by the Municipality and/or Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario shall wear a mask or face covering at all times, with the exception of consuming food or drink in a designated and stationary area.