Fitness Australia hails Step 2 Plus COVID-19 restrictions a ‘step in the right direction’ for indoor group fitness classes
The cap on numbers for indoor fitness classes is rising, with spacious and flexible studios now hoping new concessions will open the door to even more people.
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Hailed as “a step in the right direction”, the State Government’s new approach to indoor group fitness classes will allow more people to participate and keep gyms running smoothly.
From tomorrow, “Step 2 Plus” in the SA roadmap for easing COVID-19 restrictions means larger facilities can lift the cap on numbers to 20 people.
If space allows for 1 person per 7sq m, classes can have up to 20 people. But if space only allows for 1 person per 4sq m, classes remain limited to 10 people.
Fitness Australia regional manager SA, WA and NT Steve Grace is pleased to see a shift in the government’s position on this but would like to have the cap on class sizes removed.
“It’s a step in the right direction that’s for sure, something that enables bigger studios to expand and operate a little bit closer to what they were pre-COVID, so that’s a good thing.” he said.
“For the smaller studios there’s still potentially some room to improve there, so we’re going to be chatting to SA Health again and we’ll be pushing for a further easing of those restrictions come the 29th and Stage 3.”
The peak industry body wants class sizes based solely on social distancing requirements, with a preference for the less restrictive 4sq m per person rule.
Mr Grace says they’re confident 4sq m is the appropriate protocol and retaining strong restrictions on classes after June 29 would be “overkill”.
At The Gym Glenelg, club manager Cassie Boak says the staff are “working around the clock to make sure members have a good experience under these limited capacity numbers at the moment”. They have put on extra classes to cater for demand.
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Under the new 7sq m per person rule, each class can take 20 people from tomorrow, which is half the normal class size of 40 for that room.
Ms Boak said they’d like to see the 4sq m rule in effect instead, to bring them closer to normal capacity, but they are happy to adapt under the circumstances.
“We know we have to be flexible and just abide by the restrictions the government has given us, to stop the spread and ensure everyone’s safety,” she said.
“Our members understand and they’ve been really great, we’re just ready to adapt as restrictions start to ease.”