Heading back to the gym when the coronavirus lockdown is lifted may look very different if Australia follows similar protocols to Hong Kon...
Heading back to the gym when the coronavirus lockdown is lifted may look very different if Australia follows similar protocols to Hong Kong.
The densely-populated financial hub has brought in a range of measures that are likely to make a session at the gym feel a whole lot more clinical.
Anyone hoping to work up a sweat in the Asian city now has to fill out a health declaration before undergoing a temperature check.
They must also use hand sanitizer, wipe their machines down with disinfectant, avoid water fountains, use alcohol wipes on their phone and maintain social distancing at all times.
Hong Kong gyms have also introduced plastic screens in-between exercise equipment to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Plastic screens have been erected in-between treadmills to stop the spread of coronavirus in Hong Kong
The densely populated Asian city has also introduced strict health protocols for anyone hoping to work up a sweat, including temperature checks and health declarations
The Australian Government ordered the closure of sports clubs and gyms on March 23 to combat the rising number of infections
But earlier in May with the coronavirus curve reducing significantly, Scott Morrison unveiled a three-step guide to reopen businesses shut down by the pandemic.
In stage two of the Prime Minister’s road map back to normality, gatherings of 20 will be permitted with cinemas, beauty salons, amusement parks, cinema, galleries and gyms allowed to reopen.
Although state governments will have the final say as to when fitness centres are able to open their doors, it’s expected that gyms will be open again by June.
With much of the industry decimated over the past two months, the industry’s peak body Fitness Australia believes gyms are now ready to reopen.
‘We've been working closely with health authorities and state governments to figure out how to partially reopen, and then reopen fully,’ CEO Barrie Elvish told The Australian Financial Review.
‘Gyms have been lumbered with other retail groups like cafes and restaurants … but most gyms operate with electronic entry, allowing us to track who is inside at what time, and with whom.'
Mr Elvish said gym-owners in Australia are looking at every possibility to make workouts safer including disabling bubblers, turning off air conditioning, requiring members to wear face masks, cleaning the equipment six times a day and switching off every second machine to ensure social distancing is being followed.
‘We need to account for everyone's safety. The last thing I want is someone getting sick on my watch,’ he said.
A Fitness First member is pictured undergoing a temperature check before entering the gym in Hong Kong
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