Confirmed COVID-19 case at Omega Fit Club

The owners of Omega Fit Club at 767 Bayridge Drive said they have been notified of a COVID-19 case among their patrons.

“We have been informed by Public Health that one of our members has tested positive for COVID-19,” said a statement on the gym’s Facebook page. “This member attended an indoor social gathering last weekend which has been linked with many cases in our community.”

According to Omega, this member attended the gym on following days:

Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020 between 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020 between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Any member that was at the gym during those times is being advised to monitor themselves for COVID-19 symptoms.

“We have been instructed that the majority of members that were at the gym during these times are at low risk of contracting COVID,” Omega said.

“Members that were close during the cardiovascular portions of the member’s workout would be at a higher risk. We will be providing Public Health with the contact information of any member that we determined was at a higher risk and they will be reaching out in the upcoming days.”

Kingston is entering the second week of a surge in local COVID-19 activity, hitting an all-time high of 100 confirmed active cases over the weekend. Public Health is currently monitoring several outbreaks at a variety of venues including a place of worship, a car dealership in Gananoque and university house parties downtown.

“With the number of positive cases increasing in Kingston we all have to do our part to ensure the safety of our members. This should act as a reminder of how important it is to spray down your equipment, maintain the three meter distance, and wear your mask when you aren’t actively working out. These rules are in place to minimize the risk of spreading the virus even if a member enters and is unknowingly positive,” Omega’s statement said.

Under the provincial framework for responding to COVID-19, the Kingston, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) Public Health region is classified as a ‘Yellow’ zone. That means the following restrictions are in place at sport and recreational facilities:

• Maintain 2 metres physical distancing, unless engaged in a sport
• Increase spacing between patrons to 3 metres for areas of a sport or recreational facility where there are weights or exercise equipment and in exercise and fitness classes
• Capacity limits per venue, where physical distancing can be maintained:
  • 50 people in indoor classes, however each indoor fitness or exercise class can only have a maximum of 10 people and must take place in a separate room or
  • 100 people in outdoor classes, however each outdoor fitness or exercise class can only have a maximum of 25 people
  • 50 people indoors in areas with weights or exercise equipment
  • 50 spectators indoors or 100 outdoors
• Capacity limits apply on a per-room basis if operating in compliance with a plan approved by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health (Guidance for Facilities for Sport and Recreational Fitness Activities During COVID-19covid 19)
• Team or individual sports must be modified to avoid physical contact with an exemption for high performance athletes, including parasport athletes, and professional leagues; maximum 50 people per league
• Exemptions for high performance athletes and parasports
• Limit volume of music to be low enough that a normal conversation is possible; measures to prevent shouting by both instructors and members of the public
• Face coverings required except when exercising or playing sports
• Require contact information for all members of the public that enter the facility
• Require reservation for entry; one reservation for teams
• A safety plan is required to be prepared and made available upon request