The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) is requiring all Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs’ (OFSC) trails and trails utilizing Crown Land in the Health Unit district to close effective January 21, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. for the duration of the Stay-at-Home Order and will be reassessed at such time. This closure is done under the Medical Officer of Health’s ability to increase restrictions within their district.
In accordance with the provisions of the Emergency Management and Civil Protections Act, and the Regulations thereunder, specifically Stay-at-Home-Order, and the Reopening Ontario (A Flexible Response to COVID-19) Act, and the Regulations thereunder, specifically Rules for Areas in Stage 1, the Medical Officer of Health for the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit deems it reasonable and necessary to close all Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs’ (OFSC) trails and trails utilizing Crown Land in the Health Unit district effective January 21, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. throughout the entire district served by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit in order to decrease or eliminate the risk to community health presented by COVID-19.
“We have been told to stay home and we need to do this. I have received many complaints about people travelling from other districts to use the local snowmobile trails, thus putting our district at risk of COVID-19. The OFSC recommends that snowmobilers avoid trailering and travelling to destinations that are outside their health unit region to snowmobile, but people have not taken the direction seriously,” explains Dr. Jim Chirico, Medical Officer of Health. “We are also seeing groups of snowmobilers congregating on trails, in parking lots and other locations not maintaining a two metre distance and exceeding the gathering limits.”
On January 12, 2021, the province of Ontario announced the change in outdoor gathering limits from 10 to five. Individuals must maintain a two metre physical distance from people they do not live with. Individuals who live alone are allowed to be in close contact with one unique home, but must physically distance with anyone who does not live in that home. Face coverings are also recommended to be worn outdoors.
“I do not recommend anyone gather with people you do not live with or if you live alone people who are not a part of your unique close contact home,” states Dr. Chirico. “We are seeing an increase of COVID-19 cases locally and the provincial projections do not look good. Our local hospitals have very little surge capacity and limited resources which must be protected for the health and safety of our community. We must take extra precautions to keep our district safe. However, the key is we must all work together.”
Outdoor physical activity, such as walking, running, playing outside and biking are important for physical and mental health and still recommended by the Health Unit. However, all activities outside the house need to be done with extreme caution, following the COVID-19 public health measures, and should be done close to home.
If you think you may have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has it, first self-isolate and then use Ontario’s Self-Assessment Tool to see if you need to seek further care. If you need further assistance call your health care provider or the Health Unit at 1-800-563-2808. If you have severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, you should call 911 and mention your symptoms.
Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.
For more information please visit myhealthunit.ca/COVID-19.
LOL. Good one. Snowmobilers don’t follow any rules. Covid or otherwise.
They typically just run over “No Trespassing” signs.
Drinking, speeding, excessive noise, playing submarine and 2 stroke stink. All part of it.
You have to dive out of the way with your child when they roar up the sidewalk. That’s fine.
If a Harley did that in the summer it would be a big deal.
Snowmobilers go wherever they want off trails.
I asked my buddy why his dock was all scraped up?
He said snowmobiles used it as access to the lake.
I said why don’t you just lock the gate on the driveway?
He said they cut the lock off.
That’s why many cottagers have bubblers to protect their dock and property from trespassing snowmobiles.
Bubblers fixes that problem.
Bubblers is the answer.
You need a safe space set up Mac?
Did a big bad snowmobiler sleep with your wife??
Why all the hostility? Are you grumpy that you don’t have any fun in your miserable life?
I agree with the previous comments. Snowmobiling is a not a sport. We moved to the North to be safe and enjoy the environment . Have you ever been out for a walk with your grandchildren when a horde of snowmobiles speed by. Not only do you have to be concerned about being run over you can’t breath because of the exhaust fumes.
How much does it cost us all in health care with this yearly carnage.
This sport is a dinosaur of the past. Time to get of the machines and onto your feet.
John Finley
That’s the last straw for me. Screw the health unit and the hell with front line workers. I’m riding
Typical snowmobiler. You just proved my case. Snowmobilers don’t follow any rules. Covid or otherwise.
It’s not essential and it’s not exercise so they should be fined.
OFSC needs to give us full refund that,s 2 seasons down the drain. Have been buying permits for 35 plus years and because of this and OFSC and government not looking after land owners I will never buy another permit ever.
If you’re using OFSC approved trails to hike. You’re the issue not the snowmobile rider. They pay their fees for those trails you don’t. There are plenty places to hike that are free of motorized equipment.
Dr. Chirico needs to get his facts straight, and stop with the false truths re local cases and provincial projections.
In the whole Health District there are… wait for it….6 Covid cases…and only 2 in hospital…and those were both due to travel. Doesn’t seem like big rising cases to me.
And don’t get me started on provincial projections…. cases have been trending down for the past 10 days….yes…even before the Emergency Order was enacted….which coincidentally is about 10–14 days after the Christmas/New Years holidays…..the spike was going down naturally people.
This is not about liking or not liking snowmobilers….the fact is snowmobiling is about as low risk as it gets w.r.t. spreading Covid.
Just one more kick to the already down local small businesses that rely on the money spent by those snowmobilers in your region.
People using the sled trails for walking are trespassing plain and simple. Read the posted signs. Sledders pay $200 each and every year to maintain those trails. So stay the heck off them. Sledders don’t appreciate you on our trails.
And if you ever sledded for a day you would know all your muscles ache after. Much more exercise than getting off the couch for a walk.
Sledding is a beautiful way to see the back country that 99% of folks will never see. It is a beautiful country especially in the winter and those that partake in outside winter activities whether sledding or cross-country skiing are the real winners!