Fitness, Preventative Health, & Economic Stimulus, post COVID-19
Fitness has come in to sharp focus as a health activity. Previously held notions that people went to the gym for the specific sport of Bodybuilding has gotten a good shake up!
The raging Covid-19 pandemic has brought about a sea change in local attitudes towards exercise. Public awareness of the mental health benefits of regular exercise is trending.
Walking and jogging is now in fashion! So much so, that we are witnessing a fitness lobby developing on social media platforms. Here is a post by a “depressed citizen”
Preventative Health
Mainstream media and even the police appear to have developed a soft corner for fitness enthusiasts. The police are supportive of allowing people with a doctor’s prescription to go jogging. The recognition of fitness as a health activity was expressed succinctly by Personal Trainer Zinan in the leading online news, Adhadhu.
He argues that fitness is preventative health and closing the space for exercise is not a wise idea, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Smart solutions must be found to allow people to engage in exercise in this post vaccination scenario.
Economic Stimulus
The fitness community lobbied to be recognised as a commercial public service, early last year, as the pandemic exploded. We in fact closed our gyms proactively on 17 March 2020. Fitness businesses were recognised and included in the list of small businesses eligible for economic stimulus.
This year, again, Gyms have been locked down since 6 May. Unlike last year, we are looking at two months of lockdown this year. Government have again assured small businesses of economic stimulus. Despite being listed among countries with successful vaccination programs, the uncontrolled spike this May have paralyzed government functioning as evident in the words of the Economic Development Minister.
The issue of economic assistance to SMEs following this year’s lockdown is also getting parliament scrutiny this week.
Immediate Future
Vaccines arrive next month. Gyms are now likely to reopen after two more weeks, on Wed 30 Jun. Reopening depends very much on the sample positivity rate dipping to 5% in Male’. It was 27% last week.
The Bodu Eid holidays are an anomaly this year. Even if gyms reopen late June or early July, as hoped, Eid holidays kick in half way through July. That is from 16 July till end of the month. Depending on COVID-19 situation, people may or may not be able to travel. Gyms run the risk of low turnout in July.
The new academic year starts in August. People can finally settle into a new normal routine. July may end up as a distracting month, but with a positive spin as vaccination resume.
Our advise for members is to go for vaccination first. Remember, going to the gym is probably the first habit you may lose under lockdown pressures! Please get yourself back to the gym and register your new body weight as soon as gyms reopen.
