Confusion over NSW Government’s reopening vaccination rulings for gyms and fitness centres

Confusion is surrounding the NSW Government’s advice on who can be part of fitness facilities’ outdoor exercise classes as of the state lockdown easing on Monday.

7NEWS has reported “a mistake in a NSW Health order that informed gyms they could run outdoor classes for customers who haven’t been double-dosed with the COVID vaccine”.

NSW Health has reportedly now withdrawn that advice.

As part of Monday’s lockdown lifting with the state having reached a 70% vaccination rate among adult, gyms, indoor recreation and sporting facilities can reopen with density limits and up to 20 people in classes.

However, that ruling is only for those who fully-vaccinated.

Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph advised that a NSW Health helpline had mistakenly given advice to gyms that they could host groups of unvaccinated members outdoors.

As a result, a number of Sydney gyms are understood to have told non-vaccinated members could also train in a group outdoors.

Fit4All gym owner Milton Karavas said turning away unvaccinated members would put a financial strain on his business and he was also concerned about the risk of legal action against him for discrimination.

Karavas told The Daily Telegraph “the anti-discrimination act is pretty clear, you cannot discriminate against somebody for their gender, their race whatever reason, but now they are telling us to discriminate.

“Something that has come from the legal advice … is if we do open, and we do discriminate, are we going to be supported by the (NSW) Government?”

From Monday, indoor pools in Greater Sydney can open for not only swimming lessons but also for squad training, lap swimming and rehabilitation activities; indoor pools in regional NSW can remain open; and major recreation outdoor facilities including stadiums, racecourses, theme parks and zoos can reopen with one person per 4 metre², capped at 5,000 people.

Children’s Indoor Sport and Activities
While the changed NSW Government roadmap will allow children to attend for swimming lessons and squad training and will allow young people aged under 16 (whether vaccinated or not) to visit indoor venues with members of their household, no guidance has been given on children and youth participating in indoor sporting activities such as gymnastics, martial arts and competitions.

Australasian Leisure Management is making further inquiries on this.

Readers with advice or information on this can email: leisure@ausleisure.com.au

Images: Confusion surrounds the NSW Government’s advice on who can be part of fitness facilities’ outdoor exercise classes as of the state lockdown easing on Monday (top, credit: Siletn Fitness) and Black Label Fitness on Sydney's Northern Beaches prepares for reopning (below).