Brent Larsen told a Monday, March 29, afternoon press conference at the Milner baseball field in Langley that he intends to continue gathering signatures for a petition to have kids sports resume.

Asked about the provincial announcement tightening COVID-19 restrictions earlier in the day, Larsen said the province is still allowing outdoor dining, so there is no reason to forbid outdoor sports.

Larsen, a parent and coach, has organized an online petition urging provincial heath officer Dr. Bonnie Henry to reconsider current COVID-19 restrictions that allow practicing, but not actual game play, and keep parents from watching because of spectator bans.

B次元官网网址淲e want to see the data that shows itB次元官网网址檚 unsafe for kids to play outdoors,B次元官网网址� Larsen said.

B次元官网网址淚 call on the health authorities to let kids play.B次元官网网址�

Larsen also said it was unfair to allow B次元官网网址渆lite athletesB次元官网网址� to compete while limiting kids to practicing.

As of Monday, LarsenB次元官网网址檚 online petition posted to community.sumofus.org, B次元官网网址�,B次元官网网址� on March 15, had 1,745 signatures.

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Larsen said reaction has been supportive.

B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 get any negative feedback personally,B次元官网网址� he remarked.

Larsen issued an invitation to Henry or a representative to attend the press conference to explain their reasoning, but wasnB次元官网网址檛 surprised no one showed.

B次元官网网址淚 understand theyB次元官网网址檙e probably busy, but weB次元官网网址檙e calling on the province to let the kids play,B次元官网网址� Larsen commented.

A woman who said she was a single parent and only gave her first name of Esther also spoke at the press conference and described how the shutdown of outdoor sports is especially hard on low-income people.

B次元官网网址淪ome of us donB次元官网网址檛 even have a yard [for our kids to play in],B次元官网网址� Esther said.

  On Monday, indoor dining and liquor sales, indoor adult group fitness and indoor religious services were shut down for the next three weeks, in what provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry called a B次元官网网址渃ircuit breakerB次元官网网址� to combat a rise in COVID-19 cases.

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 The new rules apply to pubs and restaurants as well as adult fitness activities.

Patio dining and take-out are not affected, and individual or one-on-one fitness is still allowed with existing restrictions.

Whistler Blackcomb ski resort is also closing for the period, after an increase in positive COVID tests in the provinceB次元官网网址檚 largest resort community.