SportSG’s Latest Guideline: Only Mask-On Activities Are Allowed in Indoor Facilities

If you’re a fitness enthusiast, the COVID-19 pandemic must be driving you up the wall.

One moment infections are down and all physical activities can resume, but then infections rise again and all high-risk activities are suspended.

Sure, we can still run and go for walks outdoors, but after jogging in the same places for over a year, lying in bed and staring at the ceiling seems like a much more exciting option.

Unfortunately for us, the sharp rise in community case numbers recently has forced the government bring back the rather unpopular Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) for a second season.

And just like in the first season, all high-risk activities will not be permitted.

SportSG’s Latest Guideline: Only Mask-On Activities Are Allowed in Indoor Facilities

Only low-intensity exercises where participants are wearing their masks will be allowed in indoor facilities during Phase 2 (Heightened Alert).

The tightened measures were announced by SportSG yesterday (20 July) in an updated advisory.

As the advisory noted, Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) will kick in tomorrow (22 July) and last till 18 Aug 2021.

During this period, sport and physical activities that take place in higher-risk settings such as indoor facilities, as well as those where participants are likely to be engaging in strenuous activities unmasked, will be restricted, SportSG said.

In fact, all high-intensity, unmasked activities indoors will be suspended during this period.

Those engaging in low-intensity exercises will be allowed to do so as long as they are masked at all times.

But if a participant removes his mask, even for a brief moment to breathe, the activity has to cease immediately.

To understand why masks are so important, watch this video to the end:

Masked activities can continue to take place indoors in groups of two, with up to 30 participants including an instructor.

The groups of two are not to intermingle before, during, and after the class, and must remain 3 metres apart at all times, the advisory said.

Indoor facilities will not be permitted to offer weight, strength, or resistance equipment, as well as climbing walls for training, in order to minimise the risk of transmission through common surfaces.

Organised Programmes & Classes Outdoors

Unmasked activities outdoors, such as swimming, can take place with only two people, including the instructor, present. Multiple groups of two will not be allowed.

Physical activity of a social nature, such as running with a partner, should be kept to two participants.

Approved large outdoor classes at public spaces such as parks and HDB common
areas can also continue, subject to venue size and safe distancing requirements. All instructors must also be registered with SportSG.

During Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), sport events may admit up to 50 spectators without the need to undergo pre-event testing.

With pre-event testing, this limit can be doubled in zones of up to 50.

Mandatory “Fast & Easy” Testing For Instructors

As part of the enhanced measures, “fast and easy tests” (FETs) are now mandatory for coaches, trainers, and instructors in gyms and fitness studios where they engage in high-intensity exercises.

They will have to undergo the FET once every 14 days.

This includes sport coaches and instructors in sports such as athletics, badminton, dance, basketball, and swimming, to name a few, as trainees in these activities are unmasked.

Business that remain open during Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) must comply with the regular 14-day FET requirement.

Inspections will be conducted, SportSG said, and enforcement actions will be taken against those who flout safe management measures.

You can head here to find out which of Sport Singapore’s indoor facilities and programmes have been affected.

Read Also:

• 10 Must-Know Updates from the 20 July COVID-19 Press Conference Whereby We’ll Go Back to P2HA from 22 July
• How to Create a Home-Based Gym in an HDB Flat Cheaply

Featured Image: Adelaides / Shutterstock.com