Activities such as steam bath, sauna, Zumba and Yoga will remain closed in these centers. (Figurative)
Mumbai:
The government of Maharashtra has given permission to gyms and fitness centers to reopen from October 25, on the occasion of the Hindu festival Dussehra, with certain restrictions amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray interacted today with representatives from various gyms and fitness centers in the state to establish a standard operating procedure for their services. Preventive measures for COVID-19 were discussed during the virtual meeting.
Activities such as steam bath, sauna, Zumba and Yoga, however, will remain closed at these centers.
Gyms and fitness centers are for the well-being of citizens, so care must be taken to ensure the virus does not spread, the prime minister said.
Thackeray said the state government was slow to lift the COVID-19 restrictions because there should be no complacency.
Security measures such as hourly disinfection of facilities, physical distancing, disinfection and the use of masks would be mandatory, the prime minister said, adding that health checks of coaches and employees should be carried out regularly.
The state government had previously allowed the outdoor exercise and gymnastics centers to operate as of August 5, following protocols of social distancing and hygiene.
In July, the Center had issued a notice that allowed all gyms and yoga institutes in the country to reopen as of August 5, but several states and cities had kept them closed due to the growing number of COVID-19 cases. .
Gym owners in the state have been asking the government for several weeks to approve the opening of their centers after being financially affected due to the closure.
Maharashtra recorded 10,259 new COVID-19 cases today, bringing the state’s number of cases to 15,86,321. The death count rose to 41,965, as 250 patients died today, according to the PTI news agency.
India’s number of COVID-19 cases surpassed 74 lakh today, while the number of people who have recovered from the disease surpassed 65 lakh, bringing the recovery rate to 87.78 percent, according to data updated by the Ministry of Health of the Union.
(With PTI inputs)
.
