“This is not a circuit breaker,” Education Minister Lawrence Wong said as he announced the government’s tightening of COVID-19 measures earlier this week.
While we were upset about the lower permitted sizes for social gatherings, we were relieved to still have bubble tea and an ability to dine at the coffee shop.
Fitness enthusiasts were not too pleased, however, as indoor facilities such as gyms and fitness studios, including yoga and pilates studios, would have to close.
But it seems that some exercise in these facilities may be permitted after all.
New COVID-19 Measures Allow Low-Intensity Physical Activities in Gyms & Fitness Studios
As long as they’re low-intensity, physical activities will be allowed to continue at indoor gyms and fitness studios, Sport Singapore (SportSG) said in an updated advisory yesterday (7 May).
Participants must also keep their masks on at all times.
The premises permitted to host these activities include indoor gyms, as well as fitness, dance, barre, and spin studios.
There’s bad news for gym buffs, however: these facilities will also not be allowed to offer weight, strength, or resistance training of any form as these exercises are more strenuous.
SportSG said government agencies will be conducting inspections and that enforcement actions will be taken against businesses or individuals who fail to comply with safe management measures.
Why the Change?
So, why have the authorities relaxed the rules days after tightening them?
According to Culture, Community, and Youth Minister Edwin Tong, the measures were updated after discussions with business owners and professionals in the last few days.
“Following these discussions, we will allow some low-risk activities to continue under strict safe management measures through this heightened alert period,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
Activity Will Cease Immediately If a Participant Removes Their Mask
Even though these physical activities are low-intensity, the authorities are taking no chances due to the surge in infections recently.
If any participant removes his or her mask, the activity will cease immediately. Instructors have to wear masks at all times too.
So if you’re a sovereign, please exercise at home.
Participants should also refrain from sharing sport and exercise equipment, such as exercise machines, bars, free weights, stationary bikes, treadmills, or exercise mats, as the risk of transmission is high on these surfaces.
Of course, this equipment shouldn’t be provided by the premises in the first place.
It’s ultimately the responsibility of the facility owner to ensure that safe management measures are implemented and that participants comply with them.
Featured Image: cherry-hai/ Shutterstock.com
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