Exercise facilities fully prepared for New Zealand’s red alert COVID setting

With the Omicron variant having breached New Zealand’s borders and started spreading in the community, the nation’s exercise facilities are prepared and ready to operate from 11.59pm tonight in the new COVID Omicron red setting,

Preparing for large numbers of Omicron infections a day, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced today that the entire country will be placed on the highest level of restrictions, advising that Omicron is now circulating in the community and that the Government and health authorities will “do everything that we can to slow the spread”.

With Prime Minister Ardern having announced the postponement of her own upcoming wedding, she stated the country would try to slow the spread of Omicron but it was expected thousands of cases a day in the coming weeks – numbers that New Zealand has not previously experienced.

She explained “I know hearing these sorts of case numbers will sound deeply concerning for people to hear

“We’ll do everything that we can to slow the spread and reduce the number of cases we experience as a nation.”

With exercise facilities across the country preparing to operate under the red setting, ExerciseNZ Chief Executive, Richard Beddie (pictured) stated “Auckland has done this before and the rest of the gyms in Aotearoa have had detailed guidance from us since December last year.

“Our major concern moving forward is that the government holds the course on this and doesn't buckle to the emotional fear-mongering by the small number of high profile but non-scientific epidemiologists who want to lock us down and put further restrictions in place.

“We implore the Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern to engage with us if they are planning new protocols for the exercise industry because we can help. But we think the balance is right at red.

“ExerciseNZ has been a world leader since the pandemic arrived, playing a major role in helping countries set protocols and frameworks for exercise facilities within a covid environment.”

The ExerciseNZ framework document explains how facilities should operate during COVID and the new Omicron variant was developed to provide a safe environment for New Zealanders wanting to attend exercise facilities so it met government’s requirements, but also international best practice.

Advising that - by offering guidance for exercise providers to use at green, orange and red settings - the exercise industry takes covid safety seriously and is taking all practicable steps to ensure this, Beddie adds “the key protocols for gyms and indoor exercise facilities at red are: compulsory use of vaccine passes for staff and members, limits on capacity, and thorough sanitation practices.

“We want to tell the exercising public to stay away/get tested if you have symptoms, but otherwise keep exercising - it not only provides mental health benefits, but covid protection too.”