The basic infection control advice about staying home when you are sick, good hand hygiene and good cough etiquette also apply to all the activities discussed in this article.

Municipalities can introduce stricter measures locally due to the infection situation.
See the website of your municipality for information about local measures.

Sport clubs and associations (non-elite)

In collaboration with the Norwegian Directorate of Health, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health has prepared a guide for infection control for COVID-19 for sports teams / clubs.

• Infection control for sport (COVID-19) (Norwegian Directorate of Health) – in Norwegian

Sporting events

The current national recommendations are to postpone matches, cups and tournaments within organised sports. Matches, cups and tournaments are considered to be events, but not regular training sessions. A training camp will only be considered to be an event if there are spectators. For further information about events, see Events, gatherings and summer activities.

Training

For adults, the current national recommendation is not to take part in organised sports indoors. Adults can exercise outdoors if it is possible to keep at least 1 metre distance between people.

Children and young people under the age of 20 can carry out organised training both indoors and outdoors, unless stricter measures have been introduced locally. This group can be exempt from the distance recommendation of at least 1 metre where it is necessary for normal performance of the activity. It is recommended to avoid mixing  between the defined groups. In all situations outside the activity, for example during breaks, in the changing rooms, before and after training, it is important to keep at least 1 metre from other people.

For regular training, a maximum of 20 people in a group is recommended. Several groups of a maximum of 20 people can be together if the groups are kept separate, and that they can individually and collectively comply with the infection control advice.

Fitness centres

• Fitness centres are covered by the requirements given in the COVID-19 regulations § 15b.
• Keep at least 1 metre between people who are training at all times, but at least 2 metres in high intensity groups sessions. In less physically demanding group sessions such as yoga and pilates, 1 metre distance is sufficient.
• Hand hygiene should be performed before and after the session.
• Enhanced cleaning of frequently used contact points and equipment.
• Equipment that is touched with hands over time (e.g. weights and exercise equipment) should be cleaned according to the usual routines by each user, and by the centre at the end of the day.
• Avoid queues at the entrance / reception, toilets, wardrobes and at the various equipment.
• The centres should have an overview / plan of the maximum number of people who can be in the centre at the same time given current distance requirements, access to wardrobes, toilets and shower facilities.

The fitness industry has developed an industry standard for safe operation within infection control measures with input from the health authorities, which the fitness centres are expected to follow:

• Infection control guideline for fitness centres (Virke - in Norwegian) 

About the risk of transmission in fitness centres

The risk of infection in fitness centres is associated with many common touch points for those who exercise, increased respiration with corresponding droplet production, that people are close to each other, and that activity mainly takes place indoors. Fitness centres often gather people from different geographical areas.

Transmission potential in fitness classes with high physical activity is higher than with activities such as pilates and yoga.

Ventilation

In general, it is recommended to ensure good ventilation in enclosed environments and enclosed rooms. In enclosed rooms without a ventilation system, it is recommended to air the room regularly. Ventilation should follow normal routines. More information about indoor climate and advice on ventilation can be found here:

• Inneklima og risiko for smitte av covid-19 - råd om ventilasjon_27102020.pdf 

Organised swimming and school swimming

Organised swimming refers to all activity with a responsible organiser (school or club / team, etc.) in the form of swimming lessons, swimming training, courses and competitive swimming arranged by swimming clubs. Organised swimming should follow the general advice for swimming pools and bathing facilities: 

• Swimming pools and bathing facilities

For organised swimming, this advice also applies:

• Infection control for sport (COVID-19) (Norwegian Directorate of Health) – in Norwegian