New Delhi (NVI): The Health Ministry today issued guidelines for yoga institutes and gyms to open from August 5, under the third phase of unlocking the Covid-19 lockdown, adding that only those outside containment zones will be allowed to open.
Elderly people above the age of 65 years, people with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 years have been directed not to use gymnasiums or yoga institutes in closed spaces.
Yogic kriyas are to be avoided or planned in open spaces. Users to be put in batches and allocated staggered timings to avoid overcrowding of people while entering and exiting the fitness centre.
Each batch could have a gap of 15-30 minutes in between to keep rush at bay and facilitate cleaning and disinfecting process, the guidelines stated.
“Those having oxygen saturation level below 95 percent should not be allowed to exercise,” it added.
The generic preventive measures to reduce the risk of Covid-19 are as follows:
i. Individuals must maintain a minimum distance of 6 feet as far as feasible.
ii. Use of face covers/masks is mandatory at all times within the premises. However, during yoga exercise or exercising in gymnasiums, as far as possible only a visor may be used. Use of mask (in particular N-95 masks) during exercise may cause difficulty in breathing.
It asked people to frequently wash hands with soap (for at least 40-60 seconds) even when hands are not visibly dirty. Use of alcohol-based hand sanitisers (for at least 20 seconds) have been recommended wherever feasible.
The ministry guidelines have advised for self-monitoring of health by all and reporting any illness at the earliest to state and district helpline.
Gyms and Yoga institutes have been closed since March 23, when the nationwide lockdown was first imposed.
-CHK
