Melbourne gyms face new round of closures amid new Victorian lockdown

With Melbourne facing its latest Coronavirus related lockdown, indoor exercise facilities including aquatic centres, gyms and sporting arenas are again facing new closures.

Responding to the new lockdown, VIC Active, the lobby group representing the owners of around 500 fitness centres around the state, has issued a statement advising “it gives VIC Active no joy to remind Victorians that we have been predicting multiple long-term lockdowns since the start of 2021.”

The statement, which also suggests that Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton be removed from his role, continues “we acknowledge that lockdowns do play a fundamental role in limiting the spread of the virus.”

However, the body has also question the advice and processes driving the lockdown decision, stating “there is no transparency, no consultation and, in most cases, businesses are left without support funding from the Commonwealth or state governments.

“Industries, including ours, report meaningful dialogue with their relevant ministers only to have their agreed plans overruled by the Chief Health Officer.”

Questioning whether Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is receiving the best medical advice, the VIC Active statement argues “that by chasing one goal - a zero number (of Coronavirus cases) - that health advice is completely disregarding other key health indicators which are all heading in the wrong directions.

“These include the deterioration in the physical and mental health of Victorians - the lag in cancer check-ups, the rampant increase in conditions like obesity, diabetes, liver disease and chronic heart disease and to echo comments by the Premier and other senior ministers, Victoria is currently in the midst of a mental health catastrophe.”

The VIC Active statement continues “by all means chase a low infection numbers but surely it’s time to bring some balance to these lockdown deliberations. And surely its time to let fitness centres in regional Victoria operate when most of the state has operated with zero infections for more than 12 months.

“COVID has been a capital city problem.

“VIC Active reminds you that fitness centres are COVIDSafe - we practice social distancing, have first rate contact tracing systems and sanitise equipment after each use. Since COVID hit our shores, not one case originated from a professionally operated fitness centre in Australia.

“We think it is time that the fitness industry is classified as ‘essential’ and thereby giving us that same status as first responders and other accepted life-saving industries.”

The statement concludes that VIC Active remains concerned that unless the Victorian Government “frees itself of CHO Sutton’s reckless thinking we will suffer ongoing lockdowns”.