STATEMENT FROM ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ON CLOSE ORDER ISSUED TO LOCAL SPORTS FACILITY

ERIE COUNTY, NY – The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) offers the following statement:

An Erie County Department of Health public health sanitarian inspected Holiday Twin Rinks in Cheektowaga on Friday night and observed a hockey scrimmage, which is not currently allowed under NY Forward Sports and Recreation guidance. A close order has been issued and the facility will be allowed to open after a safety plan has been submitted to our department, and reviewed and approved. The facility will also have to reaffirm that it will follow NY Forward guidance.

Our office of epidemiology school team has received multiple, recent results of COVID-19 cases among coaches, parents and youth hockey players, along with accounts of hockey scrimmages being played. ECDOH public health sanitarians are conducting inspections of sports facilities based on these reports and complaints.

Our department is reminding sports facilities directors, and youth sports coaches and families that NY Forward guidance for sports and recreation is still in effect. Teams for high-risk sports are not permitted to participate in competitive team practices, games, meets, matches, scrimmages (e.g. organized leagues, pick-up sports), or competitive tournaments of multiple games, meets, matches, or scrimmages requiring travel.

#

For more information:
• Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH), COVID-19: http://www.erie.gov/covid19

• NY Forward Sports and Recreation Guidance