-Gyms can re-open at 50%

THE long awaited return to sports was approved yesterday by the Government of Guyana, but it would be subjected to approval by the Ministry of Health.
This is expected to bring much need satisfactions to sportsmen and sportswomen who have been restricted from playing their respective sports for several months.
A number of sporting associations and federations have had discussions with the Minister of Sport Charles Ramson (Jr) about the possibility of a restart. With the new measures in place this would be very possible at least for outdoor sports, including the likes of cricket and football.

“Sporting events are permitted subject to the approval of the Minister of Health and compliance with any guidelines that the Ministry of Health may issue and every person or organiser hosting an approved sporting event shall be responsible for ensuring that the measures under this Notice as well as any guidelines that the Ministry of Health may issue are complied with.”
Additionally gyms have also been given the greenlight to resume operations, but that will be done at half capacity and only by appointment.

The two announcements were officially gazette for the month of November, which among other things will see the national curfew being pushed to 22:30h to 4:00h.
“A gym or fitness centre maybe opened but only at fifty percent capacity of the building and by appointments only to minimise the risk and spread of Coronavirus. The operator of the gym or fitness centre shall be responsible for ensuring that their staff and customers comply with this Notice and any guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.”

During late March many gyms had begun shutting down due to the rise of the COVID-19. Space Gym, one the country’s top fitness entity, had initially closed for 12 days from March 20. Buddy’s Gym and Fitness53 at Providence (two of the other top gyms in the country) had also shut their doors waiting for the “Covid storm” to pass, but it has not, which resulted in over seven months of downtime.

Gyms and sports are inter-connected. Sports like bodybuilding, powerlifting and weightlifting all need the gym. In fact the Guyana Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation were counting down the days for the reopening of gyms to prepare competitors for the December’s ‘Resistance’ competition, which will be a spectator free event.
Many sportsmen and sportswomen also hit the weights to maximise their physical potential.

The November guidelines also stated that physical exercise is permitted only in parks, on roads, seawalls, beaches and by rivers and creeks, and where group exercise is conducted persons shall maintain a physical distance of six feet from each other.