Ahead of NSW gyms and fitness facilities reopening this Saturday, Fitness Australia is calling on the NSW Government to increase the current limit of people per class or activity as outlined in the recently released NSW Government COVID-19 Safety Plan.

Fitness Australia CEO said the organisation had been working with NSW Ministry of Health to get the current 10-person limit increased to 20 people plus instructors for classes and activities – in line with the Government’s announcements about 20 people allowed in residential homes.

Mr Elvish said:

“We have received confirmation from the NSW Ministry of Health that gyms will be allowed to operate classes with a maximum of 20 people, plus instructors. With this increased limit, all social distancing requirements outlined in the COVID-19 Safety Plan still apply.”

“However, we will continue to work with the NSW Government to increase the class size limit to enable fitness facilities, who can follow and implement robust health and hygiene protocols to ensure the safety of all gym users, to operate at an increased capacity that allows them to be safe and commercially viable from Saturday.”

In addition to the NSW COVID-19 Safety Plan, Fitness Australia’s Framework for Operations in the Fitness Industry Under COVID-19 Restrictions is available to all businesses within the industry, while the Checklist is exclusively available to Fitness Australia members.

Fitness Australia members who complete the Checklist will have the opportunity to download and display COVID Safety Plan In Place branded assets to show they are adhering to strict industry reopening standards.

The Fitness Australia COVID Safety Plan framework is available at fitness.org.au/covidsafetyplan and provides general considerations for all businesses and operators in the fitness industry. The COVID Safety Plan Checklist is available to members via the dashboard at fitness.org.au.