Although, the Government authority and district administration have accorded permission to gyms, yoga centers and fitness centres to reopen, the fitness enthusiasts and health conscious people have remained out as COVID-19 cases continue to rise in city. According to Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) and guidelines issued by the State Government, Gyms and yoga institutes have been allowed to reopen in city and these facilities have to ensure that each user has access to an exclusive area of four square metres and must disinfect frequently touched surfaces of the equipment before each use. Paramveer Singh, a fitness trainer at a private gym informed that the SoP (Standard Operating Procedure) mentions that there should be at least six feet distance between people at the gym. He added that people above 65 years, pregnant women and children below 10 are not allowed now. If someone has an outdoor area, then that should be used and the windows should be open at all times for better ventilation, along with regular sanitisation and maintaining social distancing.

 

However, some of the gymnasiums in city have opened over the last week, but gym managements say that footfall is below 20% to 25%. Gym managements point out that they are currently giving a lot of attention to sanitising equipment.

 

Another gym owner, Kumar Chandrakar said that they have restricted the number of clients per session to 4-8 members depending on the floor area of gyms. He added that clients have been asked to bring their own masks, face shields, gloves, water bottles and two towels.

 

If the facilities use air-conditioning, as per the SoP, the fitness centers have to keep the temperature in the range of 24 to 30 degrees Celsius and retain relative humidity between 40 and 70 per cent. Though, most of the gym owners have said that there regular customers are coming but new people are still not sure of joining a gym owing to scare of COVID-19 transmission.