Fitness advocates push for gyms to reopen sooner after meeting with State Government
Gym owners and fitness fanatics were dealt a huge blow when it was revealed gyms would not be reopening in October. But a meeting between leading fitness advocates and the State Government has sparked hope that could change.
South East
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Victorian gym owners have been given a glimmer of hope to reopen sooner after they met with the State Government and presented a detailed covid safe plan.
The Leader can reveal Fitness Australia chief executive Barrie Elvish and fitness advocates including prominent gym owner Tony Doherty, met with deputy Chief Health Officer Professor Allen Cheng and DHHS on Wednesday to discuss a road map for gyms to reopen.
It comes after it was last week revealed, mid-level bureaucracy and the government’s confusion over its own restrictions was to blame for the sudden decision to force gyms to stay closed longer than first thought.
Mr Elvish said the meeting was “extremely positive”.
“The atmosphere in the meeting was very collaborative and we hope that the positivity can continue in some relaxations of restrictions for our sector, sooner rather than later,” he said.
“We were asked to send a document showing high and low risk activities on Thursday and we have now done that.”
He said the plan highlighted outdoor activities as having minimal risk, low risk was considered supervised indoor activities.
Dynamic group classes are considered moderate risk, while contact activities were considered high risk.
The activities are based on one person per 8sq m with social distancing in place.
Mr Elvish said Prof Cheng and DHHS would now consider the plan, with a response expected next week.
“We’re hoping with the atmosphere of the discussions yesterday and the positive negotiations, that we can return to the original road map and reopen with covid safe restrictions on October 26.”
Mr Doherty, who owns Doherty’s Gym and is the promoter of Arnold Sports Festival Australia, also agreed the meeting was “positive”.
“Prof Alen Cheng and his department were most accommodating in giving us an opportunity to present our case and explain the lengths we’re willing to go to make sure our patrons are safe in gymnasiums across Victoria,” he said.
“Gyms are safe places because we manage the hygiene in the best possible way and some of the concerns they had were explained satisfactorily and they can go away with a fresh set of eyes and hopefully it means we can open as soon as possible.”
A DHHS spokeswoman said the department understood everyone was making huge sacrifices and the closure of gyms had been difficult.
“Gyms are currently closed under Victorian restrictions as the nature of working out carries a high risk of transmission, due to sweat and heavy breathing as well as shared equipment,” the spokeswoman said.
“Under both the regional Victoria and the metropolitan Melbourne road maps, indoor gyms are scheduled to reopen in the Last Step. The Last Step is expected to start from November 23 subject to having no new cases and public health advice.”
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