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.

害羞草研究所淲e want to see the data that shows it害羞草研究所檚 unsafe for kids to play outdoors,害羞草研究所� Larsen said.

害羞草研究所淚 call on the health authorities to let kids play.害羞草研究所�

Larsen also said it was unfair to allow 害羞草研究所渆lite athletes害羞草研究所� to compete while limiting kids to practicing.

As of Monday, Larsen害羞草研究所檚 online petition posted to community.sumofus.org, 害羞草研究所�,害羞草研究所� on March 15, had 1,745 signatures.

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Larsen said reaction has been supportive.

害羞草研究所淚 didn害羞草研究所檛 get any negative feedback personally,害羞草研究所� he remarked.

Larsen issued an invitation to Henry or a representative to attend the press conference to explain their reasoning, but wasn害羞草研究所檛 surprised no one showed.

害羞草研究所淚 understand they害羞草研究所檙e probably busy, but we害羞草研究所檙e calling on the province to let the kids play,害羞草研究所� 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.

害羞草研究所淪ome of us don害羞草研究所檛 even have a yard [for our kids to play in],害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所渃ircuit breaker害羞草研究所� 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 province害羞草研究所檚 largest resort community.