Post-coronavirus gyms: how to train without risks

Regarding which phase of the de-escalation the gyms will be able to open completely, the Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, announced a few days ago that we will have to wait for phase 3 , after the Official State Gazette (BOE) stated established that indoor sports centers could begin their activity in phase 2. However, the minister has warned that: “Gyms are facilities that require special attention, due to the physical contact that can occur, the shared use of elements to exercise and common areas…” so they have decided to postpone their opening to phase three with the proper health guarantees.

However, a document provided by the Higher Sports Council (CSD) has indicated that these centers could begin to provide service during phase 1 , although the large gym companies have decided not to do so due to the impossibility of meeting the established requirements due to the large number of registered users. The conditions that must be met to start the activity are:

• Only to carry out individual activities that do not involve physical contact.
• By appointment.
• Establishing shifts.
• Under the direction of a coach per person and shift.
• No use of the changing rooms.
• The capacity of 30% cannot be exceeded.

Gyms must limit their capacity and take extreme cleaning and disinfection of their facilities to ensure safe training.

Even so, many are already preparing for their reopening , although as is the case in other sectors such as hospitality, nothing will be the same again. One of the characteristics of gyms is the large number of training machines, which are shared among users, and the group classes that are carried out guided by a monitor. How often will it have to be disinfected? Will masks have to be used to train? What distance will have to be maintained in fitness classes? This is how your training will change when you return to the ‘new normal’.

New rules in gyms after COVID-19

For all these reasons, the facilities are going to make changes in all aspects in order to comply with safety regulations and avoid the possible risks of contagion by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 . These are some of the measures that will be implemented once the gyms can fully open, as explained by GC Asesoría Deportiva :

• Capacity reduced to 70% to avoid crowds, which will be controlled by the center’s workers.
• Distance of 1.5 meters between users in the rooms and four square meters per person in group classes; the training machines will have to be relocated to comply with these measures.
• Although the use of masks is mandatory in closed places , the National Federation of Sports Facilities Employers (FNEID) has stated that face masks will be necessary when moving around the gym, for example, when entering the locker room or leaving, without However, it will not be mandatory to use during exercise. Although that, until further notice, could remain under the gym’s decision, and there are several large chains that already indicate them as mandatory.

• You cannot train next to a machine that is being used by another person.
• The use of an individual towel will be mandatory.
• Changing rooms will be limited to 50% of their capacity, which must be controlled by gym staff. Even so, it is recommended that users access the facilities already changed, avoid showering in them and not use hair or hand dryers.
• Common water sources will be sealed, so you must carry an individual bottle that will be refilled at home.
• In activities that take place outdoors, interpersonal safety distances of at least 1.5 meters will also have to be maintained.
• The rooms will be cleaned after each class to properly disinfect them, therefore, a minimum rest time between classes will be guaranteed for this task. In addition, hygiene tasks will be reinforced in all spaces – at least twice a day –, especially in areas of frequent contact, such as doorknobs, chairs, railings, coat racks and bathrooms.
• In order to carry out this cleaning and maintain safe distance, group classes may have their duration and number of users reduced.

• All spaces will have to be ventilated regularly.
• Disinfectant gel and hand soap will be made available to users in the bathrooms to facilitate hand hygiene .
• Input devices should not require physical contact, so fingerprint access will be eliminated.
• Taking body temperature using a laser device or thermal cameras is recommended for everyone entering the gym.
• Users with symptoms of infection or who have been in contact with COVID-19 positive patients will not be able to access the facilities.