Gyms gasp for breath as lockdown extends.
Lockdown is a new reality! The COVID-19 pandemic has normalized lockdowns and movement restrictions. After a three month lockdown early last year, the second lockdown is now upon us. Gyms in Male’ City are closed. for a second time.
There appears to be a nuanced difference in the way lockdown is interpreted. Before vaccine arrived, it was “Lockdown”. After vaccines arrived, it is “Movement Restriction”. For gyms it is the same difference! All Gyms closed on 6 May 2021.
Lockdown and Movement Restriction keep Gyms closed. Gym closure has been extended by another two weeks up to Wednesday 9 Jun 2021.
Please listen to Mazin from local gym, Evove Fitness, on Rajje TV #KulhivaruFile
We closed for the first time on 16 March 2020 for three and a half months. Social distancing, mask wearing, temperature screening, hand hygiene and sanitizing Gym equipment became the new normal.
Gym closure with the First Wave of the pandemic delivered a devastating blow to the fitness business. Gyms had to depend on the Government COVID-19 Stimulus Package to survive the first lockdown.
We figured the Finishing line of this Covid-19 Pandemic was blurred.
The first lockdown eased after June 2020. Serious gym goers cautiously resumed workouts. The physical and mental benefits of exercise came into sharp focus. Outdoor exercise surged. Gyms reopened under new normal HPA Guidelines.
Mitigating the Second Wave also came at great cost.
New cleaning protocols had to be adopted. Trainers and Members shared cleaning responsibilities. We also shut down the air conditioning at our club! Exhausts had to be installed to extract stale air. Windows were opened and fans were installed to increase inflow of fresh air.
Ventilation became a priority. Cooling became our biggest problem. So, we installed fans. We also limited gym use to 12 members at any given time. This is less than half of what we used to accommodate in our 2,000 square feet Gym Floor. We have maintained Zero Transmission. But revenue has plummeted.
The Second Wave normalized movement restrictions. This shaved off 2 business hours from normal Gym time.
Interestingly, no significant superspreading was reported from Gyms in Male’ City. HPA has not been of much help to us. The lack of data coupled with a lack of willingness to engage turned into disappointment. Gym owners are feeling frustrated.
The commonly held view is that Gyms are super spreaders. But this is not the case in the Maldives. Superspreading events were reported in other settings. A wedding reception shocked us on how lethal superspreading could be. Gyms and gym goers felt somewhat safe, especially as vaccine became available.
Vaccines arrived in February this year. But, with vaccines came a Third Wave.
Group fitness was discontinued and individual or “solo” exercise was allowed. This restriction stalled primary revenue streams of fitness clubs such as TFG and HEAT Health & Fitness who run large Group Fitness programs.
Vaccines are important for Gyms. HPA facilitated vaccination of Trainers and staff.
They however appear dismissive of how seriously the fitness industry take vaccination. Despite the absence of an association, individual Gyms took it upon themselves to internally encourage members to get their vaccines as soon as possible. Gyms understood that getting members vaccinated is the solution.
HPA finally announced yesterday, Mon 24 May 2021, the extension of lockdown by an additional 2 weeks. We are said to be experiencing a Fourth Wave. This in our 3rd week of lockdown. We are now holding our breath for a 4th & a 5th week. The earliest possible reopening date appear to be Thursday 10 June. Gyms must work together.
