Fitness industry anticipates jump in gym memberships
The fitness industry says it expects a jump in new gym membership applications after it was given the green light to open its doors.
Gyms and health clubs will be allowed to operate again after President Cyril Ramaphosa eased a number of regulations as part of the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Under level 2 of the lockdown, gyms can operate from midnight on Monday.
FiTSA spokesperson Grant Austin welcomes the decision.
“We were all sitting on the edge of our seats waiting for President Ramaphosa’s address and we were all highly encouraged by the fact that the whole country has moved down to level 2. We’re very happy and excited that gyms are a part of that.”
Austin says there is some hope for the industry’s recovery.
“As an industry we actually very confident that internationally it has shown members have flocked back into the gym.
“In surveys that we did we found that more than 80% of non-members that were surveyed were actually quite keen to join the gym now. I think everyone has realised that we can’t wait 18 months for a vaccine and that it’s your own healthy immune that will keep you healthy and well in this type of an issue.”
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President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Saturday evening that, under level two of the Covid-19 restrictions, inter-provincial travel could resume and that hotels will be allowed to accommodate leisure travelers.
Fitness operators will need to submit their Covid-19 plans to government for approval before facilities are able to reopen.
This process is expected to take a week to complete.
“We actually put together a set of protocols with a panel of occupational hygienists and that has been in the hands of the government since the 25th of June,” says Austin.
“We have not received any negative feedback.”
Listen to Grant Austin below: