It will be a little easier for you to get to the gym for your workout starting this weekend.
The province of Ontario is helping gyms and recreation centres recover from the COVID-19 shutdown by allowing for an increased capacity of patrons. As of Saturday morning, capacity will be increased to 50 people at one time for each indoor sport or fitness room, with physical distancing of at least two metres expected.
Premier Doug Ford announced the guidelines during his daily news briefing Friday at Queens Park. He said the move is being made to help gyms reopen and get more employees back to work, and is based on amendments made by the government and public health officials to the Stage Three reopening protocol.
"Many of our gyms and fitness centres are owned and operated by small business owners, and they are struggling," said Ford. "To help them get back on their feet and hire back staff, we are making these changes so they can serve more people. I continue to urge everyone to follow the strict public health protocols to ensure everyone can have a safe workout."
Arenas, multipurpose facilities, dance and yoga studios will also be subject to the changes in allowable capacity.
The province also announced that $8-million will be invested to help revive amateur sports. Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries Lisa MacLeod said the investment through the Ontario Amateur Sport Fund is designed to support organizations that are getting back into competition after the shutdown.
"The government knows it has been a difficult road for the sport and recreation sector these past several months," said MacLeod. "This funding is providing much-needed stability and support to a sector that provides services to many businesses and non-profit organizations. With these changes and investments, we will once again show the world that Ontario is the best place to play sports."
Municipalities and local health units may have implemented additional restrictions designed to keep people safe.