COVID-19 Health & Safety
Last updated May 11, 2022
The safety of our students, members and staff is always our first priority. An extensive and ongoing review and redesign of our spaces and operations has been undertaken across the pandemic to ensure we are meeting or exceeding public health guidelines and emerging industry best practices.
We are confident you, our students and members, understand the importance of these protocols and your role in keeping yourself and others safe. Students and members are expected to adhere to all safety requirements, facility signage and staff direction in advance of and throughout their visit. Expectations will be strictly enforced.
In keeping with our ongoing goal to increase capacity and remove barriers to participation, TMU'S vaccination policy and daily health screening requirement through the TMUSafe app have been suspended as of May 1, 2022. Reservations and Check-in upon entering our facilities has also been suspended.
If you have questions or concerns related to our procedures or another person’s behaviour, please let our staff on-site know or email recreation@torontomu.ca.
TMU's vaccination policy and daily health screening requirement through TMUSafe have been suspended as of May 1, 2022.
Effective June 1, 2022 TMU's masking requirements has been lifted. While no longer required, the use of masks is highly encouraged to protect ourselves and our community.
Participants
Effective March 21, 2022, masks are required any time a participant is not actively participating (e.g., before, after or on the sidelines during), but optional while actively participating.
In keeping with broader university policy, masks remain required when not being physically active, including while entering/exiting Athletics & Recreation facilities and in common areas like hallways and changerooms.
Masks are effective at reducing transmission of COVID-19, and we encourage our students and members to wear a mask while physically active whenever possible. If you find your mask has become wet and uncomfortable mid-workout and you need a replacement, our staff will be happy to provide one.
The Mayo Clinic Health System has a great FAQ on wearing a mask while exercising (external link) to guide you.
A reminder that, when required, masks:
- Must completely cover your nose, mouth, and chin - exhalation valves/vents are NOT permitted
- May be removed briefly for the purpose of hydrating or upon entering a shower stall
- Pool users: Mask/face covering may be removed when showering and entering the pool water, but must otherwise be worn on the pool deck and in the changerooms.
Athletics & Recreation Staff
All staff are required to wear a mask or face covering at all times, with the exception of group fitness instructors while actively teaching. In addition, staff are also required to wear a face shield, gloves and gown when performing first aid.
Exemptions to these expectations are outlined in TMU’s Face Mask policy.
Requirements for participants to complete a daily health screening through the TMUSafe app, and to Check-in upon entry to our facilities has been suspended as of May 1, 2022.
Health Screening via TMUSafe App: Students and members must complete the new health screening process via the TMUSafe app or web browser within 24 hours prior to attending. If passed, students are welcome to attend and will be asked to show their green 'passed' screen to staff when checking-in to the facility. If you fail your health-screening, do not attend in-person.
Check-in Process: Each student/member will be required to check-in to their pre-reserved time slot when entering the facility using their OneCard or Photo ID. Our facility entrances are equipped with hand sanitizer and queueing stanchions with physical distancing markers on the floor. Please remember to wear your mask and leave 2 metres space between you and others at all times.
Upon check-in at any of our facilities, you will be asked to provide:
- Proof of identity such as a TMU OneCard, driver’s licence or health card.
- Passed COVID-19 health screening as completed via the TMUSafe app or web browser (light green badge), completed within 24 hours of entrance. If you fail your health-screening, do not attend in-person.
- Proof of vaccination or exemption - see 'Vaccination Requirements' for details.
Physical Distancing
- Students, members and staff are encouraged to maintain 2 metres physical distancing between themselves and others whenever possible - please leave extra time to navigate and adjust your workout accordingly
Reduced Capacity
While permitted by the province to return to 100% capacity, certain spaces and recreation programs will operate at reduced capacity to ensure the safety and comfort of participants and staff. Each reserved time slot will welcome a limited number of guests, and facilities will be cleared between groups to avoid crossover and allow for cleaning when required.
- Showers are available at both RAC and MAC, while changeroom access, washroom stalls and sinks have been limited to ensure appropriate physical distancing and fixtures have been replaced with touchless options wherever required.
- Some fitness equipment has been repositioned to facilitate distancing.
In addition to our already robust efforts to ensure our strength, fitness and sport equipment is safe and clean, new electrostatic sprayers (external link) have been purchased to support rapid and effective cleaning by staff throughout and at the end of each day.
Students and members are also expected to use the regular spray and wipes provided to clean equipment after each use. Additional stations have been added to the facility in support. ‘Working in’ (sharing equipment with other participants between sets) is only permitted when cleaning between users.
Additional hand sanitizer stations have also been made available throughout our facilities, including in activity spaces.
