Coronavirus: Gyms and yoga centers to reopen from August 5, following new guidelines
New Delhi:
New guidelines have been released for yoga institutes and gyms across the country that are allowed to reopen from Wednesday as part of the centre’s “Unlock 3” plan amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The guidelines aim to minimize physical contact between staff and visitors to yoga centers and gyms, as COVID-19 is known to spread via respiratory droplets and contact with the surface.
However, yoga institutes and gymnasiums in containment areas will remain closed. Only exterior containment areas are allowed to open. Spas, sauna, steam bath and swimming pools are other facilities that still cannot be reopened.
Some of the key points of the new guidelines are:
- People over 65, people with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children under 10 were asked not to use gyms in closed spaces.
- The mask or mask is mandatory at all times on the premises. But during exercise, only a visor can be used as a mask can make breathing difficult.
- It is recommended to use the COVID-19 Aarogya Setu tracking app.
- The yoga or gymnasium floor should have a space of four meters per person. Equipment should be spaced six feet apart, and whenever possible it should be moved outdoors.
- Create specific paths for entering and exiting the building with appropriate direction markings on the walls.
- For air conditioning and ventilation, the temperature setting should be between 24 and 30 degrees Celsius with fresh air intake as much as possible.
Ministry of Health guidelines state that building doors should have disinfectant dispensers and thermal screening devices. Only asymptomatic people, including staff, are allowed to enter.
If a person is suspected of being infected, they should be kept in a room or area where they are isolated from others. Staff should immediately notify the nearest medical facility or call the state or district helpline, the health ministry said.
