The Alberta Government has announced new targeted measures to stop the rise of COVID-19.

A community specific mandatory measures was announced on Nov. 12, which included the banning of indoor group fitness classes and team sports for the next two weeks. These activities include high-intensity group activities which consist of two or more people as well as team sport activities such as practices, games and competitions that occur indoors and where a two-metre distance cannot be maintained. 

Kristy Lauzon, program coordinator at the Lethbridge Soccer Association says she isn’t thrilled with the new measures announced.

“They should have dug into their homework a little further before just saying it’s [shut down]. The transmission through sports [at least here in Lethbridge] isn’t anything close to church gatherings, large party gatherings, stuff like that.”

Lauzon says youth sports were shut down from March until early September with competitive teams starting up over the summer months. 

“It was still a long haul and now to take that all away from the kids again abruptly, I know it’s only a two-week hold, but I don’t have a high hope for what our government is going to do with the youth sports here in the next couple weeks.”

Lethbridge Minor Hockey Association also released a statement following the announcement of the new restrictions, which reads in part.

“In the short time this announcement has been made, we have had numerous questions about playing hockey and acquiring ice in communities around Lethbridge that are not currently under this shut down order, because of less positive cases in their area. This will not be allowed as registered members of Lethbridge Hockey Association; we all must follow the directive coming from our government bodies in all capacitates. No hockey means no hockey.”

The statement goes on to say that anyone who is identified in acquiring ice or participating in programs under the shutdown directive will be immediately released and removed from all participation within the association.

The measures will remain in place until Nov. 27. The new enhanced measures include Lethbridge, Lethbridge County, M.D. of Taber, Cardston County, County of Warner, Vulcan County, County of Forty Mile, Cypress County, County of Newell and Brooks. 

To get a full breakdown of the South Zone cases and restrictions announced, visit AHS website.