Gyms/Exercise Facilities Guidelines

General Guidelines

  • Face coverings are strongly encouraged for all persons (employee and guest) in all public places where close proximity to others is anticipated. Businesses and organizations may determine to require the use of face coverings by those on premise. There is increasing evidence that cloth face coverings help slow or prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone unable to remove the mask without assistance
  •  Persons should stay home when feeling ill
    • Any person who has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 must isolate at home for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms (or the date they were tested, if asymptomatic) AND must be fever-free (without the use of fever-reducing medications) AND have improvement in symptoms for at least 24 hours
    • Any person who has been a close contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes or longer) of a person with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 should quarantine at home for a period of 14 days from their last exposure to that individual. A negative COVID test does not affect this quarantine requirement
  • Screen for COVID-19 symptoms, or ask individuals to self-screen
    • Symptoms include: cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, sore throat, fever (temperature of 100.4 degrees or greater), chills, new loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
    • Take appropriate precautions to maintain the confidentiality of health information
  • Mitigate exposure in the workplace by implementing social distancing practices to the greatest extent possible
    • Take into account critical factors such as venue capacity and physical characteristics, type of activity involved, and location (indoor vs. outdoor) to properly assess risk and exercise good faith judgment in maintaining appropriate social distancing for each unique situation
    • Such measures could include: spacing workstations appropriately; limiting capacity of gatherings in confined, indoor spaces; utilizing larger and/or outdoor spaces; limiting congregation in common and break areas; utilizing virtual/remote capabilities where possible; allowing work from home where appropriate; and/or modified scheduling
    • Consider the use of barriers at counters or between workstations where helpful
  • Improve ventilation for confined, indoor spaces. Circulate outdoor air where possible and when code compliance and security may be maintained
  • Increase hygiene practices—encourage frequent handwashing with soap and water, make hand sanitizer (60% alcohol) readily available, encourage practicing good respiratory etiquette when coughing or sneezing and avoiding touching one’s face
  • Implement cleaning and disinfection practices according to CDC recommendations, with frequent disinfection of shared/common or high-touch surfaces
  • Plan for potential COVID-19 cases and work with health department officials (including observing isolation/quarantine protocols, assisting with contact tracing, planning for personnel absences or remote work, and deep cleaning facilities). Notify the local health department of employee positive cases and cooperate with the local health department in notifying close contacts
  • If a facility becomes aware that a person has a confirmed case of COVID-19:
    • Close off areas used by the person who is sick. Open outside doors and windows to increase air circulation in the areas
    • Wait up to 24 hours or as long as possible before you clean or disinfect to allow respiratory droplets to settle before cleaning and disinfecting
    • Clean and disinfect all areas used by the person who is sick, such as offices, bathrooms, and common areas
    • If more than 7 days have passed since the person who is sick visited or used the facility, additional cleaning and disinfection is not necessary
  • Educate persons about COVID-19 with signage (resources available from ERG and CDC)
  • Use signage, floor markings or other cues to direct human traffic flow and manage lines
  • Consider appropriate precautions for people at increased risk of severe illness from COVID
  • Increase remote, curbside, pickup, and/or delivery options to minimize contact and maintain social distancing.  Use contactless methods where practical (e.g., payment, check-in, etc.)
  • Be mindful of applicable state or local COVID-19 regulations or orders and ensure your operations facilitate compliance
  • Evaluate the profile of customer and employee engagement with the venue and other persons at such venue to make appropriate adaptations as necessary to protect against COVID-19, even if not recommended or described in this document
  • Take steps to ensure that all mechanical, electrical, and water systems are properly functioning and safe for use after a prolonged facility shutdown
  • Covered employers and employees should be aware of the provisions of the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which allows for paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons, such as for self-quarantining or seeking a medical diagnosis for COVID-19 symptoms

Revised: October 1, 2020

Industry Guidelines

  • Limit facility occupancy if appropriate spacing between persons cannot be maintained, as density of people within a confined area increases opportunity for virus transmission
  • Limit congregation in locker rooms and frequently disinfect such areas
  • Implement appropriate protocols for aquatic venues, such as swimming pools, hot tubs and saunas, in accordance with the Tennessee Pledge Swimming Pool Guidelines
  • Use caution with basketball courts, racquetball courts, and other places where group or team contact sports may occur. Refer to Tennessee Pledge Sports Guidelines
  • Conduct group fitness classes in a manner that promotes social distancing (limit class size if necessary)
  • Adjust layout as necessary to maintain six feet of distance between stations/equipment