COVID-19: ActiveSG sports centres to regulate access
SINGAPORE — From Monday (16 March), Sport Singapore will implement regulated access at all its ActiveSG sports centres due to the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
This applies to all stadiums, sports halls, gyms, swimming complexes and studios.
In a media release on Sunday, SportSG said that the enhanced precautionary measures come after the latest advisory issued by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Friday.
Among the various measures encouraged in the advisory, MOH advises sports centres to limit the number of patrons, introduce physical separation measures, increase the frequency of cleaning, and practise public hygiene.
As such, ActiveSG facilities, where possible, will implement a single point of entry to facilitate temperature taking and recording of visitor details.
“Regulating the number of people at our facilities helps to increase personal space and allows one to adopt physical distancing,” said SportSG chief executive officer Lim Teck Yin.
“I would like Singaporeans to continue to stay fit and healthy. Physical distancing, wiping down the equipment after use and refraining from visiting our premises if you are sick, are ways in which we can do our part as SG United.”
Precautionary measures at various sports centres
The additional precautionary measures are:
Gyms and studios: Regulated access will be implemented according to the size of the respective facility. If the gym is at full capacity, notices will be prominently displayed to inform users and queue numbers will be provided. Gym users are also strongly advised to visit only one ActiveSG gym during this period and avoid visiting multiple gyms, to limit the chances for widespread transmission.
Programmes which used to be conducted at our studios will now be held outdoors, for natural ventilation. If a programme must take place in the studio, the number of users allowed to be present in the gym will be restricted to ensure there is more physical distance between participants.
Swimming pools: Children’s pools will be closed until further notice. Temperature taking and visitor registration will be implemented at all pools. We will regulate the number of visitors at all pools.
Indoor sport halls: Only alternate courts will be available for indoor sport halls that are shared by groups for activities such as badminton and table tennis. Some of the court bookings from Monday will be cancelled and refunded accordingly. This is to limit the number of patrons within the hall, and to maintain some physical distance between groups. There will be no changes to squash and tennis court bookings and usage.
Stadiums and outdoor facilities: The number of visitors at stadiums will be regulated. Stadiums where a single point of entry can be implemented, will do so. Lane segregation will be implemented at stadiums for joggers. Temperature taking and visitor registration will be implemented for organised events.
Senior-centric programmes: Senior-centric programmes have been suspended from 11 to 24 March and the measures in place will remain status quo.
Partners and service providers: SportSG has advised all partners, including national sports associations to adhere strictly to MOH’s guidelines, including adequate physical distancing and to cancel or postpone events that will have more than 250 participants. SportSG has also informed them for their athletes and staff to avoid all non-essential travel, and practise good hygiene habits.
Events and activities at ActiveSG facilities must follow the enhanced precautionary measures. In addition, SportSG has asked the organisers to limit entry of players and officials to the facilities by time blocks, especially during leagues or tournaments. Non-players are only allowed in the spectator stands. The maximum capacity of the facility under the new measure applies.
The public are encouraged to stay healthy while observing good personal hygiene and socially responsible practices. They may do simple exercises at home to keep themselves in shape referring to videos developed by SportSG here and here.
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