Toronto Kendo Club COVID-19 Safety Plan

Date: October 16, 2021
Revision: 1.3

This document outlines the measures that the Toronto Kendo Club has implemented to reduce the risk of COVID-19. The following resources were used in the formulation of this plan:

• City of Toronto COVID-19 Guidance: Parks & Recreation Facilities, Indoor & Outdoor Sports & Recreational Fitness Facilities
• City of Toronto COVID-19 Guidance: Employers, Workplaces & Businesses COVID-19 Safety Plan Checklist
• City of Toronto COVID-19 Guidance: Employers, Workplaces & Businesses COVID-19 Checklist on Mask By-law & Sample Policy
• City of Toronto COVID-19: What to Do if You Are a Close Contact
• All Japan Kendo Federation Guidelines for Preventing the Spread of Infections with the Resumption of Interpersonal Keiko

Components of this COVID-19 safety plan rely on the policies and practices of the Joseph J. Piccininni Community Centre (JJP).

As the COVID-19 situation is constantly changing, the Toronto Kendo Club may update this safety plan from time-to-time.

Preventing and Controlling Crowding

1. For indoor practices, participants should arrive no more than 10 minutes prior to the assigned practice time.

  • a) For outdoor practices participants should arrive before the assigned practice time.

2. For indoor and outdoor practices, participants will be required to register for specific practice sessions to ensure the attendance is within maximum capacity limits and to keep a record of who is planning to attend. Please see registration information.

3. Participants are encouraged to come to practice wearing the required clothing to minimize crowding in the change rooms.

  • a) Appropriate attire for outdoor practice is gym clothing.
  • b) Appropriate attire for indoor practice is keikogi and hakama (preferable), or gym clothing.

4. For indoor practices, participants must enter through the front door and check in at the JJP office.

Screening

1. Everyone going to practice must complete the on-line Ontario health screening within four hours of practice and e-mail the results to tkcsignin@toronto-kendo-club.ca with their name in the subject line. Do not go to practice unless the screening result indicates that you can go.
No exceptions.

2. Anyone eligible for vaccination must be fully vaccinated prior to going to practice.

  • a) Please bring proof of full vaccination to every practice and show the staff at the JJP office.
  • b) Juniors under 12 and others not yet eligible for vaccination can still go to practice if they pass the on-line health screening. Upon enter JJP, parents must inform JJP staff that the Junior is under 12 or born after 2010.

3. Visitors and prospective new members – please monitor the website to see when we are open to visitors and prospective new members.

Physical Distancing

1. Participants must maintain at least two metres distance from others at all time.

  • a) As a marker, keep at least two shinai lengths from the nearest person.
  • b) Sensei and instructors must maintain at least two metres distance from students and each other. Corrective instruction must be shown from a distance.
  • c) In seiza and rei, participants must be two metres apart from each other and the sensei.

2. When doing exercises, participants should be in one line facing the same way. As much as possible, participants should not face each other.

3. In the case of keiko and person-on-person exercises, maintaining a two metre distance may not be possible. Therefore, the duration of these exercises will be limited to 30 minutes.

  • a) Participants must refrain from tsubazeriai and taiatari.

4. As much as possible, unvaccinated juniors from the same family will be placed in the same practice group, and unvaccinated juniors from different families will be placed in separate practice groups.

  • a) The number of practice groups at each practice may change.
  • b) Depending on the number of practice groups the separation of unvaccinated juniors from different families may not be possible.
  • c) Unvaccinated juniors may be combined with other fully vaccinated participants.

Use of Masks and Face Coverings

1. All participants, instructors and visitors are required to wear a mask upon entering and remaining within an enclosed area. The mask must cover the nose, mouth and chin.

2. Each participant must provide their own mask. No masks will be provided. Anyone unable to comply with the mask policy will be asked to leave.

3. Each participant should bring an extra mask in case they wish to change masks during or after practice.

4. Temporary removal of the mask is permitted where necessary for the purposes of:

  • a) Drinking water
  • b) Changing masks

5. In the case of outside activities, masks are not required unless participants cannot maintain a two metre distance from others.

Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette

1. Participants should wash their hands prior to practice.

  • a) Participants are encouraged to bring their own hand sanitizers.

2. Participants should refrain from shouting (hassei) unless directed to do so.

Cleaning and Disinfecting

1. Until further notice, our practice of lining up to clean the dojo floors together will be suspended.

2. We are relying on the JJP policies and practices for cleaning and disinfecting the community centre.

Program Modification

1. Keiko duration will be shortened to reduce the risk of infection.

2. Kiai will be internal and silent unless explicitly directed otherwise.

3. Participants should refrain from overexerting themselves and should take breaks whenever necessary.

4. Participants can bring water bottles and refresh themselves when necessary.

Reporting COVID-19

1. If a participant tests positive for COVID-19:

  • a) Immediately send an e-mail to tkcsignin@toronto-kendo-club.ca with the following information:
    • i. Your name
    • ii. The date of your positive COVID-19 test
    • iii. The date of the last practice you attended
    • iv. In the subject line of the e-mail, indicate that you had a positive COVID-19 test.

2. If TKC receives information that a participant tested positive for COVID-19, the following actions will be taken:

  • a) TKC will contact the JJP about the positive COVID-19 test case.
  • b) TKC will contact the participants who attended practices around the time of the positive COVID-19 test and inform them that someone tested positive for COVID-19 and that they should be tested as soon as possible.
  • c) Those participants in b) above must follow the Toronto Public Health instructions on What to do if you a re a close contact of a person with COVID -19 .
  • d) Parents of juniors who were participants must follow the Toronto Public Health instructions on A Parent’s Guide: If your child is a close contact of a person with COVID -19 .
  • e) Those participants in b) will need to show TKC proof of their negative COVID-19 test prior to registering for or attending any subsequent class.
    • i. E-mail the proof of negative COVID-19 test to tkcsignin@toronto-kendo-club.ca with your name and Negative Test in the subject line.