The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Gyms and fitness centres yesterday hailed a “smooth” reopening after being closed for more than three months as a result of the COVID-19 emergency measures.

Sofia Whitehead, owner of Club One Fitness, told Tribune Business: “We had a really great morning so far. We are only allowing 40 people on the floor every hour-and-a-half, and then after that we have a 30-minute clean down and it’s working well.

“People have booked in advance online, and they come in and they renew their membership. We have way more space than 60 spaces per person, and they have to clean down the machines before and after their work out.

“Clients get sanitised on both their hands and their feet upon entrance. They also get their temperature taken at the door. It’s working really well. I’m happy.”

Club One Fitness does a complete half-hour, gym-wide clean down every 90 minutes, at which time no one is allowed inside the facilities. “We are definitely going to be keeping it like that for two weeks until things pick up more, because I don’t think it might be necessary,” Ms Whitehead said.

“It’s definitely not part of the government’s protocols, because the government said you should only clean down the facilities twice a day, but we are being very extra cautious because we are very concerned about people’s health.

“We want to make sure everyone feels safe, and we are just opening up and we want to keep everything very strict.”

Jennifer Godet, owner of J-Line Fitness, said: “The opening was great. Everything is fine. Everybody came in with their masks on, and they know they have to keep them on until they exercise and they are done.

“Everyone came through. The gym is social distanced now as we spread our machines out, so everyone kept their distance. It was great.” Ms Godet reiterated that clients to not have to wear masks while they are “actively exercising”.