VIC Active continues to highlight the safety of fitness centres

March 2, 2021

Industry body VIC Active continues to highlight the COVID safety of the fitness sector in Victoria with VIC Active Spokesperson, Tim Schleiger noting “there has not been one COVID case linked to a fitness centre in Victoria.”

In a statement released today, Schleiger advises “most fitness centres in metropolitan Melbourne have been closed for at least seven of the past 12 months.

“It is testament to the strength and courage of the owners, managers and fitness professionals who have beaten COVID and are in business and serving Victorians. We know more than 1,000,000 Victorians regularly attend their local fitness centre and our customers missed the physical and mental health stimulation that comes with it.

“We hope that the recent five-day lockdown will be the last time the Andrews Government shuts down our industry.

“And for what it’s worth, the $2000 grant that is available to fitness centres as part of the Circuit Breaker Business Support Package would in normal circumstances be considered insulting – but given the dire condition of thousands of businesses across Victoria it will be put to good use.

“We have demonstrated that we are COVID-Safe and that we are critical to the physical and mental health and wellbeing of Victorians, using academically and scientifically collected evidence.

“The Government should recognise this and let fitness centres re-open without limitation.

Schleiger adds “there is one thing that continues to defy logic - 50,000 people will watch the first game of the AFL season at the MCG in around a fortnight – but we are limited to one patron per four square metres. Riddle me that!”

For more information on VIC Active go to www.vicactive.org

19th February 2021 - VIC Active calls on Victorian Government to fulfill its promise of financial assistance

23rd November 2020 - VIC Active questions remaining caps on Victorian gym operations

15th November 2020 - VIC Active calls for immediate unrestricted opening of Victoria’s gyms

8th November 2020 - VIC Active looks to fitness reawakening after ‘COVID-19 imposed slumber’

4th November 2020 - VIC Active questions State Government’s motives for imposing continued restrictions on Victoria’s fitness industry

28th October 2020 - VIC Active highlights more than 80% of fitness centres will operate at a loss under reopening plan

13th October 2020 - Vic Active continues to call for reopening of indoor fitness centres

14th September 2020 - VIC Active considers Government’s mental health support package to be tokenistic

11th September 2020 - VIC Active claims government’s proposal for outdoor training is impractical

24th February 2021 - Fitness Australia welcomes NSW Government’s lifting of gym class numbers to 50 people

23rd February 2021 - Fitness Australia’s Barrie Elvish highlights the value of health

12th February 2021 - Fitness Australia disappointed at NSW Government’s easing of restrictions for all indoor venues except gyms

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’

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

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

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