On Oct. 3, Queen’s Athletics & Recreation (A&R) announced the next phases of the Athletic and Recreation Centre’s (ARC) phased reopening. On Oct. 5, the ARC pool and Q Sports Medicine Clinic reopened for the first time since March along with the Qshop, which is now providing home delivery or pickup.

In compliance with Ontario Public Health requirements, the facilities have undergone specific regulations to ensure the safety of both staff and students.

The re-opening of the ARC pool is following a phased reopening strategy to ensure limited contact between patrons while using the facility.

From Oct. 5 to 7, only Queen’s students were able to use the pool by reservation, but this has since been amended to allow staff and existing ARC members by reservation. 

The pool has a maximum capacity of 28 people per reservation period and is only available for lane swimming.

Swim activity periods have been shortened to 50-minute increments, allowing for cleaning of the pool between each period. 

Signs and traffic direction have been placed on the floors and walls of the pool areas to limit contact with other staff and students while in the facilities and are expected to be strictly followed.

The Q Sports Medicine Clinic is following suit, making the safety of the staff and students a priority. Reservations can be made by appointment only, with no walk-ins allowed.

A three-step screening process is in place when making an appointment with Q Sports Medicine Clinic, as students are expected to show their appointment confirmation, their completed COVID-19 self-assessment, as well as their ARC membership card or photo identification.

Q Sports Medicine Clinic is encouraging students to use the Queen’s SeQure app to assess potential COVID-19 symptoms prior to appointments.

 All personal belongings are placed in a tote provided when directed into the treatment space, and masks are required to be worn in the duration of the appointment—a measure all physiotherapy clinics are currently taking.

The ARC and Q Sports Medicine Clinic are anticipating a safe opening and “look forward to welcoming [the] community,” Queen’s said in a statement.