VIC Active continues to highlight the safety of fitness centres

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