Hand washing sterilisation stations, heavy duty sweat-resistant cleaning products and conversations with a number of levels of government have happened this week as Fitness Focus get ready to re-open part of their business, following new guidelines and restrictions.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The gym was forced to close several weeks ago as the state and federal governments enacted plans to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
However, the NSW premier has announced a relaxation to restrictions in NSW from Friday, which will allow outdoor gym sessions to take place with no more than 10 people at a time.
Fitness Focus owner Andrew Bassett said they had invested in an outdoor gym area about 18 months ago, but since then had placed their own restrictions on its use because of the drought and dust storms.
"We've checked all the guidelines, including speaking to NSW Health, and local parliament, and the COVID-19 hotline. We've dotted our i's and crossed our t's to implement our COVID-19 action plan allowing us to reinstate physical exercise at the gym."
"We will only be opening a few hours each day, and our members will have to book in to access the outdoor area. We have invested in specific cleaning products for next level sanitisation, and we have hand sanitiser stations.
"Our outdoor area is about 450 square meters so it will be easy to abide by all social distancing rules, and everything will be monitored."
Mr Bassett said they had received a lot of advice surrounding their re-opening, and were now excited to get people back to the gym, most importantly to help their mental health.
"People's mental health and physical exercise has been the not-so-spoken about topic over all of COVID-19. The science and the studies are there to prove that physical exercise helps when combating depression, and that's the main reason why we have chosen to reopen."
Mr Bassett said some members were happy to come back, while others thought it was too soon, and it was a position staff respected no matter what people chose to do.
"We are really excited to be able to provide this facility. The emails only went out yesterday (Monday) and already we have been swamped with replies.
"We've had a really good response, not only from the members but also from the fitness passport members."
Do you have something to say? We welcome your letters which may run in print and online.