Fitness centres and classes have been making some adjustments in a hurry as proof of vaccination became mandatory on October 1. (Photo 38523827 © Flynt - Dreamstime.com)

By Rob Mahon

Vaccine Proof For Gyms

Fitness centres, classes adjusting to mandatory vaccination

Oct 4, 2021 | 1:00 PM

As September turned to October, a new set of public health orders came into effect in Saskatchewan, most of which revolved around proof of vaccination. Anyone entering a large venue, a liquor store, or a gym (among other places) would need to show proof of being fully vaccinated, or in some cases provide a negative COVID test.

This has left local gyms trying to put new infrastructure in place as they work to make sure they’re screening people coming in for workouts. This has meant learning a new suite of systems and getting a new set of protocols set up for gyms and fitness classes.

“We’ll have to obviously screen and ask people for proof of vaccination as best we can,” said Keith Zawislak, co-owner of Hillside Physical Health and Fitness. “It’ll be a bit of a learning curve for us as well. We’ve done all sorts of COVID screening up until this point and we’re really good at that. This is kind of a new wrinkle we’ll have to get used to.”

The prevailing attitude among many local gyms is that they’ll do what it takes to stay open, even if it may be inconvenient at first. That said, navigating the logistics of it is posing a challenge for some. Many fitness centres have put fast-pass systems in place to help speed things along, meaning members only have to show proof of vaccination once.

“We’ve actually kind of implemented that already for the last week or so,” Zawislak said. “We’ve had a sign-up for our gym members so they could come and give us their information ahead of time so that we do have a record of it and then it’s just a matter of them scanning their fitness pass to get in.”

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Zawislak wasn’t sure whether or not they’d need to hire extra staff, though the plan initially was to carry forward with what they have.

In the town of Shellbrook, meanwhile, town administration has been dealing with the new guidelines as they set up fitness classes themselves. Because there’s no privately owned fitness centre in Shellbrook, they’ve been running their own fitness classes.

“We are currently just in the process of getting that rolling because our first fitness class actually isn’t until tomorrow with those new guidelines,” said Jessica Kernohan, town recreation director. “We just run once a week for each class. We’re just in the process of compiling people’s vaccine proof as well as trying to navigate all the new things that come with that.”

While not getting into details, Kernohan did say that there had been some pushback from people regarding mandatory vaccines for fitness classes.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP