Calgary playgrounds will be closed in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19 and protect children from the virus, the Calgary Emergency Management Agency announced on Monday.
“We know how to get in the outdoors and physical distance ourselves, unfortunately, our kids do not. The only thing they know how to do is play together, and generally, playing together means they’re going to be tight together,” CEMA chief Tom Sampson said during a news conference.
“We’ve made a very difficult decision… We’ve made the decision to close the playgrounds. The parks will remain open, but the playgrounds specifically will be closed,” Sampson added.
“It’s just not healthy. It’s not a great place for kids to be.”
“We understand the impact this has, especially considering the closure of other things for kids,” he added. “We do need to make these sacrifices in order to stop the ongoing spread of COVID-19.”
In addition, Sampson said adults need to model physical distancing for their kids.
“You do need to have social distancing.
“It shouldn’t take me, and it shouldn’t take the premier and the mayor to tell you to have you that physical distancing is the right thing.”
Sampson suggested Calgarians can still visit city parks, but encouraged them to try checking out lesser-used parks and keep a bicycle’s distance between them and the people around them.
In total, Calgary has 1,100 playgrounds. Citizens are asked to refrain from using them immediately as the city works to tape them off.