AusLeisure

With the NSW Government relaxing COVID-19 restrictions for indoor venues as of 12.01 am on Friday 12th February, Fitness Australia Chief Executive, Barrie Elvish has expressed his disappointment that fitness clubs and gyms will not be allowed to increase capacity under the new 2 metre² rule.

Noting that the new state-wide easing of restriction was a fantastic step forward in the NSW Government’s handling of community transmission of the Coronavirus, Elvish said the still applying restrictions to gyms was not based on data or facts.

Expressing his frustrated that gyms had been singled out and excluded again, Elvish advised “we applaud the NSW Government on their handling of COVID-19 community transmission in recent months. We know gyms are safe but misinformation is still leading to our industry being singled out.

“Fitness Australia gyms and members have worked tirelessly to ensure the health and safety of all gym users and, as an industry, we have had less reported cases of members visiting facilities with COVID-19 and lower rates of community transmission than other industries such as hospitality.”

Explaining that gyms, fitness classes and other fitness studios provided a vital service and facility for people to look after their long-term health, mental health and wellbeing, Elvish added “the benefits of exercise on our health and wellbeing can not be underestimated. We accept the NSW Government’s position to keep gyms at 4 metre² but would like to see class sizes increases to allow for more people to access group exercise.

“We know increasing class sizes now is safe. This will allow more people to attend a class, rather than continue to miss out due to unreasonable and isolated rules.

“The data shows gyms and classes are safer than hospitality and entertainment.

“Like many businesses in NSW, Fitness Australia members are providing a safe and hygienic environment for people to exercise, train with a Personal Trainer or take a class.”

Fitness Australia has developed a comprehensive Framework for Safely Operating a Fitness Facility Under COVID-19 Restrictions, which has been rolled out Australia-wide. 

The robust framework is designed to provide guidance in managing risks associated with COVID-19 within fitness facilities in Australia, while providing gym users and the broader community with the confidence and comfort that fitness facilities have a COVID-19 safety plan in place.

Image: 'Distanced' fitness equipment at Anytime Fitness Forbes. Credit: Anytime Fitness Forbes.

Related Articles

29th January 2021 - White paper identifies role of technology in driving post COVID fitness operations

25th January 2021 - Australia’s Fitness and Recreation Industry Technology Summit to return as an in-person event in July

21st January 2021 - New research shows Barre classes to be world’s most-searched fitness class trend

4th January 2021 - Fitness Australia calls for Federal government to introduce national plan to improve physical activity rates

1st December 2020 - Fitness Australia partners with Latrobe University to launch industry survey

17th November 2020 - Fitness Australia Chief Executive questions why gyms must close but pubs can stay open

29th October 2020 - Fitness Australia advise that risk of infection in a gym is less than ‘one in a million’

22nd October 2020 - Fitness Australia applauds NSW Government’s relaxation of gym COVID Marshal measures

16th October 2020 - Fitness Australia’s Barrie Elvish maintains calls for gyms to open in regional Victoria

8th October 2020 - Fitness Australia releases research showing impact of lockdown gym closures

3rd October 2020 - Fitness Australia launches transferable membership and AusREP Relief package

25th September 2020 - Fitness Australia asserts there is no clear evidence gyms spread COVID -19

18th September 2020 - Operator questions Fitness Australia’s 26th October reopening claim for Victorian gyms

13th August 2020 - Fitness Australia counters ‘misinformation’ that suggests gyms are a hotspot for COVID-19

17th July 2020 - Reopening approved for Plus Fitness Campbelltown following temporary COVID-19 closure

16th July 2020 - Planet Fitness takes ‘vigorous steps’ to limit community transmission of Coronavirus

15th July 2020 - Campbelltown Aquafit assures members with recognition of its ‘Gold Standard’ COVID-19 compliance

1st July 2020 - Fitness Australia calls for Queensland Government to release Stage 3 Industry COVIDSafe Plan

15th June 2020 - Fitness Australia calls for national consistency in state government gym reopenings

29th May 2020 - Fitness Australia releases Checklist to ensure gyms offer safe environments when reopening

29th May 2020 - Planet Fitness Australia founder calls on governments to ‘open our gyms’

---

Asking a small favour
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

The news we publish at www.ausleisure.com.au is independent, credible (we hope) and free for you to access, with no pay walls and no annoying pop-up ads.

However, as an independent publisher, can we ask for you to support us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine - if you don't already do so.

Published bi-monthly since 1997, the printed Australasian Leisure Management differs from this website in that it publishes longer, in-depth and analytical features covering aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues management.

Subscriptions cost just $90 a year.

Click here to subscribe.