Outdoor skating rinks to open in Montreal this winter

Oct 30 2020, 2:34 pm

Despite being under red zone restrictions, Montreal public health has approved the reopening of outdoor hockey rinks for the upcoming winter.

The city’s director of public health, Mylène Drouin, says outdoor rinks benefit the physical and mental health of Montrealers.

She also said that COVID-19 health guidelines must be in place and specifically pointed out that hockey games will not be permitted; rinks will be reserved for free skating.

On Wednesday, Drouin said that the risk of transmission is “much lower” when playing sports outdoors compared to in closed places where ventilation is not always optimal.

Drouin says the number of cases in Montreal has plateaued in the past three weeks, levelling out at roughly 250 new cases per day.

She invited Montrealers to continue their physical distancing efforts, wearing masks, and washing hands in order to try and stem the community transmission of the virus.

She hopes that in two more weeks, the city will begin to “slightly decrease.”

The City of Montreal reminds outdoor skaters to respect all the coronavirus safety guidelines and said locker room and changing stations will remain closed.

The city says a maximum of 22 skaters can appear on the ice at the same time and arena staff will be on-site to ensure every skater is following the rules.

Visit the city’s website for times and more information.

Ty JadahTy Jadah

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