Phase 3 (Heightened Alert): Encouraging news for gym owners in Singapore
SINGAPORE – Indoor fitness activities will be allowed to resume from 21 June if the COVID-19 situation in Singapore remains under control in the next few weeks, the multi-ministry taskforce shared in a press conference on Thursday (10 June).
Gyms and fitness studios may resume indoor mask-off sports activities, with safe distancing of at least two metres between persons and at least three metres between groups of up to five persons.
Sports classes (both indoors and outdoors) will be capped at 30 persons (including the instructor), comprised of groups of no more than five persons. Class participants may unmask if they are engaging in strenuous activities, although they are strongly encouraged to remain masked where possible to reduce the risk of transmission.
Encouraging news
Ken Mok, the CEO of True Group, shared with Yahoo Lifestyle SEA that he was happy to hear the news: "We are happy and grateful that we can soon welcome our members back to our clubs with appropriate safe distancing measures in place. While we have been conducting online and outdoor classes that have been very well received, our members have been raring to return to their regular fitness sessions."
Mok added that in line with safe management measures, their clubs are cleaned and sanitised every two hours: "We are committed to doing our part in keeping Singapore safe, and we are waiting to hear from the authorities on the required testing regime. Prior to the recent closures, we clean and sanitise our clubs every two hours, which is above and beyond requirements. We will continue to do so, and take other active steps to ensure the safety of our team and members."
As for Sarah Stuart, owner of the F45 Training Jurong CBD studio, she remains hopeful about the news.
“We welcome the government’s decision to allow indoor activities to resume and are prepared to comply with safe-distancing guidelines to ensure our wider community, including staff and members, remain safe. As we await further details, we will continue to ensure contactless check-in at studios via our app, and ask all members to use our disinfection station upon entering the studio. Our format also allows for members to work at their own station with all the disinfected equipment they need to avoid sharing with any others," said Stuart.
Brad Robinson, CEO of boutique gym chain Ritual Gym Singapore, said that his members are itching to get back to a regular fitness routine, which also means "being able to use fitness equipment and not wearing a mask during exercise."
“We are thrilled that restrictions are starting to ease, and that the national measures put in place proved to be effective. The national vaccination drive along with easier testing options should allow us to get back to business as usual in short to medium term, which is very exciting,” Robinson said upon hearing the positive news.
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