Guidance for Gyms and Fitness Providers Reopening During Covid-19

These protocols provide guidance and under all circumstances, the following precautions should be followed by people utilizing gyms.

Gyms and Fitness providers should take measures to ensure that customers follow these guidelines:

  • Stay home if you are sick No one with a fever or COVID-19 symptoms should be allowed to enter the gym.
  • Protect yourself while visiting gyms:
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from other patrons
  • If you are at higher risk for severe illness, you should avoid visiting gyms & fitness providers. People at higher risk for severe illness include adults 65 or older and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds on arrival at the gym or use an alcohol based hand sanitizer (at least 70%).
  • Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • If possible, use touchless payment (pay without touching money, a card, or a keypad).
  • If you must handle money, a card, or use a keypad, use hand sanitizer immediately after.
  • After leaving the gym, use hand sanitizer. When you get home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. 

Additional precautionary measures:

  • Maintain physical distancing of 2 meters (6ft) apart.
  • Employees are required to wear face coverings. Provide access to soap and water for handwashing or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer at stations around the gym for use by employees and clients. Require employees to regularly wash hands for at least 20 seconds.
  • Operate with reduced occupancy and capacity (50% capacity is recommended) based on the size of the business location with special attention to limiting areas where customers and employees can congregate. The number of occupants which can be accommodated should be posted outside.
  • Wipe any pens, counters, or hard surfaces between use or customer.
  • Implement comprehensive sanitation protocols, including sanitizing gym equipment before and after every use.
  • Provide disposable disinfectant wipes, cleaner, or spray so patrons can wipe down frequently touched surfaces on gym equipment.
  • The gym space itself should be plentifully stocked with spray bottles containing disinfectant as well as clean cloths or bleach wipes for sanitizing surfaces. 
  • When spraying a disinfectant, give it time — a minute or so — to kill germs before wiping. And clean any grime or dust off surfaces first.
  • Ensure proper ventilation at all facilities.
  • Implement symptom screening for employees prior to the start of their shift.
  • Arrange waiting areas, service areas, and break rooms to provide for appropriate physical distancing and sanitize areas regularly between use.
  • Bring your own water bottle to avoid using drinking fountains.
  • Post signs advising customers and employees of expectations and guidance.
  • Train all employees in the above safety actions.
  • Consider contactless check-ins.
  • Consider requiring online bookings for fitness classes and limiting the size of the class to allow for appropriate physical distancing.
  • Provide virtual classes or training for high risk individuals.
  • Arrange cardio equipment and other equipment so that appropriate physical distancing can be adhered to.
  • Ensure adequate equipment for patrons to minimize sharing to the extent possible, or limiting use of equipment by one user at a time and cleaning and disinfecting between use.
  • Consider limiting gym hours to allow for proper sanitation.
  • Implement enhanced sanitation of locker room areas.
  • Require employees and patrons to clean out lockers nightly to facilitate overnight deep cleaning processes.
  • Consider requiring guests to provide their own towels. If this is not possible and towels must be provided:
    • Launder items according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the warmest appropriate water setting and dry items completely.
    • Wear disposable gloves when handling used towels from guests.
    • Do not shake used towels.
    • Clean and disinfect bins that hold used towels according to guidance for disinfecting surfaces.
    • After handling used towels: Remove gloves, and wash hands right away.

References:

https://azgovernor.gov/sites/default/files/guidance_for_gyms_fitness_providers.pdf

https://blog.nasm.org/covid-19-guidance-for-personal-trainers

Note that as the COVID-19 situation continues to develop, the Ministry of Health will provide updates if any additional precautions are recommended.