Announcements today explaining the easing of Coronavirus restrictions in Melbourne and regional Victoria have seen the state’s Chief Health Officer repeat discredited claims that fitness facilities are “high-risk” locations.
Speaking at the announcements that apply broadly similar Coronavirus easing rules for gyms, aquatic facilities, entertainment venues and brothels, Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said gyms would remain closed as they were “high-risk” venues, noting “gyms are a high-risk environment. I understand, again, the pain for those gym owners.”
Repeating claims that he first made last year but which have since been proven incorrect, Professor Sutton stated “we’ve had significant outbreaks in gyms through the second wave in Victoria. I think we had 27 cases in a gym.
“And international experience suggests that even when you’ve got high levels of testing, including for some gyms where they test people before they come into the gym, that the combination of indoor settings, closed environments, people exerting themselves, really has significant opportunity for spread.
However, Professor Sutton said he didn’t expect gyms to remain closed for long, adding “I don’t expect gyms to be closed for a long time from now on,” he said. “I am asking gyms to make that sacrifice for a further week as we assess the epidemiology.
“At this juncture, closure is the appropriate measure, that’s the view of the public health team.”
However, he did acknowledge that Melbourne’s weather wasn’t helping the cause.
“To the extent that people can exercise at the moment outdoors - and it is not a pleasant week for that and I recognise that - that is the safest thing to do. It is 20 times safer to be outdoors.”
After Professor Sutton made similar claims in September last year, Fitness Australia labelled his comments as being “misinformation” adding that this “negative, unproven commentary is damaging to the industry and the health and wellbeing of all Victorians”.
Advising that Professor Sutton’s comments were not supported by any evidence, research or actual data, Fitness Australia Chief Executive, Barrie Elvish stated “(these) comments are extremely disappointing. We are urging Professor Sutton to qualify his comments that gyms are a ‘known high risk setting’ and ‘cause outbreaks’.
“These are not based on, or supported by, any data and we are calling for the Victorian Government to engage with the industry and make decisions and comments that are based on real data, not personal views.
“If Professor Sutton does have evidence to the contrary, we urge him and the Victorian Government to share it with Fitness Australia so we can make our existing and successful COVIDSafe plans for the industry even better.”
Image: Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton. Credit: Department of Health and Human Services Victoria.
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
Read more from this author
Related Articles
9th June 2021 - Lockdown easing allows brothels to reopen in regional Victoria under same terms as gyms, aquatic facilities and entertainment venues
9th June 2021 - Adventure Tourism Victoria denounces partial lifting of lockdown
9th June 2021 - Fitness Australia and Vic Active demand exercise facilities be allowed to open in regional Victoria
8th June 2021 - Highlighting safety of gym visits Vic Active says Victoria’s Chief Health Officer has ‘got it wrong’
8th June 2021 - Victoria’s Chief Health Officer warns of no large crowds when Melbourne lockdown ends
4th June 2021 - Fitness Australia asks why Victoria’s Chief Health Officer is again targeting gyms
3rd June 2021 - Victorian lockdown impacts the aquatic industry
2nd June 2021 - Melbourne’s stage three lockdown to be extended for another week while restrictions to ease in regional Victoria
1st June 2021 - Victorian lockdown leads to fitness industry losses in excess of $10 million
31st May 2021 - Bendigo gym returns to online classes through Victoria’s latest Coronavirus lockdown
28th May 2021 - Fourth COVID lockdown ‘a monumental kick in the guts’ for Victorian fitness operators
27th May 2021 - Fitness Australia urges locked down Victorians not to forget the importance of physical activity
27th May 2021 - Victoria Government announces seven-day lockdown
23rd March 2021 - Fitness Australia says industry ‘continues to strengthen’ 12 months since COVID-19 shutdowns
24th February 2021 - Fitness Australia welcomes NSW Government’s lifting of gym class numbers to 50 people
4th January 2021 - Fitness Australia calls for Federal government to introduce national plan to improve physical activity rates
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
12th October 2020 - Fitness Australia provides update on meeting with Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer
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
21st September 2020 - Fitness Australia’s Barrie Elvish to meet with Victoria’s Deputy Chief Health Officer to urge gym reopening
10th September 2020 - Fitness Australia confirms Melbourne gyms to reopen from 26th October
6th September 2020 - Fitness Australia challenges Victorian Chief Health Officer’s assertion that gyms ‘cause outbreaks’
30th August 2020 - Fitness Australia calls for Victorian Government to reclassify health and fitness facilities as an ‘essential service’
21st August 2020 - Fitness Australia secures support for exercise to be classed as an ‘essential service’ from Victorian shadow sport minister
13th August 2020 - Fitness Australia counters ‘misinformation’ that suggests gyms are a hotspot for COVID-19
15th June 2020 - Fitness Australia calls for national consistency in state government gym reopenings
29th May 2020 - Planet Fitness Australia founder calls on governments to ‘open our gyms’
9th September 2020 - 12RND Fitness’ Michael Jordan backs challenge to Victorian Chief Health Officer’s comments that gyms are ‘high risk’
19th October 2020 - Victorian Premier omits ‘high-risk’ gyms from state’s reopening plans
Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.
