Gym owners have joined forces to pressure the Victorian Government to reclassify fitness venues as essential services.
Fitness venues were excluded from reopening in the state’s latest ease of coronavirus restrictions for regional areas and Kyneton Ozzfit owner Shannon Downey said the move was “disappointing”.
“We anticipated that we would be opening with restrictions,” he said.
“Primarily we are there to help people change their lives and to help improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life. To have that taken away was a dagger.
“We have heard from people who are struggling with their mental health and are now without the ability to have some sort of social and physical outlet and a structured fitness program outside of being stuck at home.”
Under the state’s ‘Third Step’ to reopening, personal trainers and other staff can attend the facility for the purpose of recording or streaming digital classes, with up to five people permitted but the arrangement.
Real Strength Studio Castlemaine’s Dean Mawby was forced to hold off therapeutic group training sessions for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients.
“The effect on people with early dementia who could be making inroads is really frustrating and loved ones have noticed changes,” he said.
“There’s a whole lot of people who are wanting to get back on track with their health and fitness. It’s a simple process to have good levels of hygiene and meticulous cleaning throughout a session.”
The prolonged fitness venue shutdown has disconnected some crucial exercise support programs and also impacted dance studios.
Dance schools like Gisborne Dance Academy is pushing to see studios reclassified immediately, and those with students aged 18 and under to reopen in line with regional schools.
But, under the premier’s latest restrictions, Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas said fitness venues were considered high risk. There has been one outbreak in a gym in Victoria, which has 27 cases linked to it.
“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,” Ms Thomas said.
Under both regional Victoria and the metropolitan Melbourne roadmaps, indoor gyms are scheduled to reopen in the last step, which is expected to begin from November 23 subject to having no new cases and public health advice.
