You can now set and spike atop the Strathcona Rooftop Patio this Summer, after rooftop volleyball returns amid COVID-19, with the approval from Island Health.
“With permission from Island Health, we have opened our volleyball courts to small groups!” said the Rooftop Patio in a Facebook post.
The Rooftop Patio, part of the Strathcona in downtown Victoria, closed its doors in March in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. It opened to the public on May 21 but kept the outdoor, sandy court off-limits until this week.
The court has “aced” the guideline test with the Health Authority, reopening with restrictions to ensure safety for all players and spectators.
The sand will only be open to a maximum of 15 to 20 people, and anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 will not be allowed to enter.
There is a maximum of 10 people on the court at a time, with two to five players on the side.
The venue says there is a 30-minute wait in between each booking to allow time for sanitization of the space, and the ball or court can be sanitized during play if requested.
One sanitized volleyball will be provided per group, but the patio recommends bringing your own.
For those courtside who prefer to eat and drink instead of play, there will be four tables to hold up to five people. The patio will not allow tables to be combined in an effort to increase the physical distance between customers.
There might not be the same comradery players are used to, as handshakes, high-fives and hugging are strongly discouraged.
All patrons are required to use our hand sanitizer upon entering and leaving the volleyball court area.
That’s not the only patio news this Summer. The outdoor patios created in public spaces in downtown Victoria might be here to stay, after positive feedback from businesses and the community.
Rebecca Lawrence
