Victorian Government to allow reopening of Melbourne gyms but with restrictions that may make operations unviable

Forced to remain closed while other industries reopened in the past week, gyms and other indoor venues in Melbourne will be allowed to reopen as of midnight tonight under the Victorian Government’s latest easing of its Coronavirus restrictions.

However, the one person per four square metres rule applying and a maximum of 50 people indoors and no more than 10 people per group, the restrictions may well make operations unviable for Melbourne facilities.

Paul Guerra, the head of the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said some business owners faced a scenario where they would incur losses if they remained closed, or opened with reduced numbers.

Vic Active spokesperson and gym owner, Tim Schleiger, said it was "simply not viable" for some larger venues to run group classes with a limit of 10 people.

Community sport will also resume operating in Melbourne after being ruled out for the past week.

Under the new rules, Melbourne-based hospitality venues have a 75-person indoor limit, while any nightclubs that choose to open can only allow 50 people inside.

Cinemas and theatres will only be able to seat 75 people, meaning another week of postponements for the large-scale production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

While overall numbers will be capped, Luna Park Executive Director Mary Stewart said she was "quite pleased" to be able to allow up to 1,000 people back this weekend.

Stewart told ABC Radio Melbourne "I think that we will hit the capacity limits, certainly during the school holidays for some days.”

From Friday, Victorians will have complete freedom of movement with the 25-kilometre travel radius being removed while changes to mask rules will only require their being worn outdoors when social distancing is impossible.

Regional Victoria will be able to ease its restrictions further from Friday.

Restaurants and cafes can move to 300 people per venue for seated service and smaller venues will be allowed to host up to 25 people before applying the density quota. Outdoor gatherings can be increased to 50 people.