Gyms Reopening During COVID-19: 4 Steps

Fortunately, the fitness industry has the green light to reopen. However, fitness centers are reopening with more obligations and fewer clients. These additional responsibilities are reasonable, because exercising in an indoor gym is a higher-risk activity during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, owners of fitness centers must be aware of all the risks and take steps to abolish them.

Without taking the necessary precautions, any gym may become a good environment for fast, viral outspread. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Coronavirus transmits through close person-to-person contact when an infected individual coughs, sneezes, or talks. Also, a person can get infected by touching things that have the virus on them, and then touching his/her own nose, mouth, or eyes. In gyms, people move around indoors, share equipment and air, and breathe heavily. These factors make them risky places. But let’s face it, fitness centers, where people invest in their health, are as dangerous as cafes, concerts, etc., where people have fun being pretty close to each other.

How to protect staff and visitors

We want to help fitness centers restore their pandemic-battered image. Here, you’ll find a plan on how to make gyms safe during COVID-19 and successfully reopen your fitness business.

Measure 1: Conduct temperature monitoring

Under today’s uncertain circumstances, everyone is rocked with anxiety. We all want the lockdown measures to be relaxed but still are afraid to visit public venues. Luckily, authorities put every effort toward making environments and facilities as safe as possible. They are producing state and local must-follow regulations and gym safety rules so that they can be reopened.

One of the most important requirements for gyms reopening during COVID-19 is creating a safe environment for both employees and visitors. For this reason, the CDC recommends daily temperature screenings and symptom checks in employees prior to beginning work. As we know, a fever is the first sign of Coronavirus. So, early detection of fever-like symptoms can hinder the virus. That’s why we see a growing demand for high-quality, smart temperature monitoring systems nowadays. These systems guarantee that no one with an elevated temperature unknowingly exposes the people inside the facility to Corona. The devices use ground-breaking technologies and are updated for today’s situation. They are contactless, accurate, and fast - no waiting lines at the entrances. What is the best equipment to use in fitness centers?

Thermal cameras

Thermal cameras engineered for high-traffic areas and can discreetly screen up to 30 people at once. You can install this tiny, wall-mounted device inside for consistent temperature monitoring and surveillance without disturbing your visitors.

Smart kiosks and/or smart sanitizing hubs

Smart kiosks are the best for employee temperature checks. They feature facial recognition technology, making them great employee-tracking tools. Such scanners minimize physical contact at a time of social distancing and streamline the flow of people - employees will just stop briefly to be checked.

Both thermal cameras and smart kiosks can be integrated with the existing security system; they are customizable and user-friendly. The devices provide accurate and fast readings and send notifications to personnel if an individual with an elevated temperature is detected. Additionally, all screenings remain private and ensure the confidentiality of every person’s medical status and history. Examine everyone for fever symptoms with smart temperature readers upon arrival, and feel rest assured that your visitors and employees are safeguarded from Coronavirus inside your gym.

Measure 2: Maintain intensive cleaning regimes

As we touched on above, an individual can get infected by touching a surface with the virus on it. So a strict cleaning regime inside the facility is a must. It’s a good idea to educate the cleaning staff and provide an instruction session before they start doing their tasks. Make sure cleaners are well-informed on state/local laws and instructions and know how to clean properly to decrease the risk of Coronavirus cross-contamination. Also, create a COVID gym cleaning checklist according to the CDC recommendations. Here are the key points of proper clean-up:

• Cleaners must put on disposable gloves when they perform their duties.
• Surfaces and objects must be cleaned with soapy water, then disinfectant at least twice a day.
• Frequently touched equipment and surfaces require frequent washing and disinfection, ideally before each use.
• Soft surfaces must be cleaned with soap and water or the right cleansers.

Measure 3: Maintain social distancing

When you open your gym during Coronavirus, you should do your best to provide social distancing. This is an important precaution since people breathe heavily during their sweat sessions, so there is a high risk of cross-contamination. The most efficient way to keep people at the appropriate distance is to provide them with more space to exercise on their own without bumping into each other or equipment. Therefore, you may need to rearrange machines, or even reduce the number available. Also, mark spaces for floor workouts with paint or tape, so that everybody remembers to stay within their specific areas. It would be great to design staff T-shirts with social distancing reminders on them. It’ll look fun, plus, instructors will feel better protected.

Measure 4: Communicate with your staff and visitors

During the Coronavirus gyms opening, you should provide consistent and efficient communication with the staff. Schedule regular meetings and educational sessions where you’ll explain how to arrange the working process, what to expect under such an uncertain situation, how to protect yourself and visitors, notify personnel if there are COVID-19 cases in your gym, etc. Nowadays, it’s crucial to keep an open line of communication and protect your employees from COVID-19. Additionally, display reminders and signs in strategic places to provide guidance on hand hygiene, social distancing, utilizing masks, and cough and sneeze etiquette.

Final thoughts

Nowadays, effective safety precautions are the lifeblood of any business. And strict gym rules during COVID-19 can do a lot to abolish the risk of infection; however, it doesn’t mean that the hazard is gone. Update your fitness studio with effective temperature monitoring systems like athermal camera, smart kiosk, or smart sanitizing hub. The advanced technology will allow/deny entry based on people’s health conditions, and this way, prevent the spread of COVID-19 in your gym. Arm your fitness center with the right equipment and confront COVID-19 well-protected!