(File photo/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Enhanced COVID-19 precautions

City to ensure more security in place for COVID-19 restrictions

Jan 27, 2022 | 2:49 PM

The issue of COVID-19 security at city facilities where proof of vaccination is required was once again discussed at this week’s council meeting.

Coun. Kent Lindgren raised concerns that some people are not showing their proof of vaccination and managing to get into facilities through deceptive practices.

He said he is aware that to avoid being checked for vaccination, individuals would wait until the commissionaires or volunteers leave the front doors of a facility before entering.

“Many people on council and within administration are hearing that people are finding ways to go around those policies to access our facilities,” Lindgren said. “So similar if at a rental that we found out numerous under-age people were coming in and buying alcohol, we would take steps to try to limit that.”

He said he hopes the city is able to do something to prevent these types of transgressions from happening.

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Coun. Bill Ironstand also spoke up, saying the city is doing “the bare minimum” to protect its facilities right now, adding that more work is required to ensure everyone’s safety.

He was aware of occasions where some outside contractors that organizations brought in to check people attending some hockey activities, for example, didn’t ask for proof of vaccination.

“It is definitely something we are going to have to address,” Ironstand said. “We need to step up our game.”

Leisure Services director Cheryl DeNeire said the city is having challenges at facilities in particular that have numerous doors for entry, adding that is not a new problem.

“We do recognize there is still some work to be done,” she said, adding the issue is not only people who aren’t vaccinated evading security, but also individuals trying to get into facilities without paying.

DeNeire said the city is looking at ways to tighten up the check system at points of entry and make sure security is in place.

“We worked with the user groups. If they see someone isn’t there to check proof of vaccination they have to step in and do that until we get someone else there,” she said.

DeNeire added that the city’s team has identified most of the areas that could be a problem and are addressing that.

“Consistency is going to be the key,” she said.

The city is continuing to accept vaccination wallet cards as an option, as well as QR codes at city recreation facilities where proof of full vaccination or a negative test result is required, as part of its enhanced COVID-19 restrictions. A second piece of identification is also needed. Youth ages 18 and under remain exempt from the measures.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow