Movement to fight health order closing B.C. gyms, fitness centres gains momentum

Some gyms in the province are remaining open despite new COVID-19 restrictions that came into effect earlier this week, and a movement to change the latest public health order is gaining momentum. 

Adult gyms, fitness centres and dance studios are some of several public spaces that were to be closed as of Dec. 22, to stem the spread of the SAR-CoV-2 Omicron variant.

Earlier this week, several gyms in Kamloops made it known they would be remaining open despite the public health order. No word from city officials on whether or not the order will be enforced.

READ MORE: Some gyms in Kamloops remain open despite new COVID public health order

On Dec. 21, a Keep B.C.'s Gyms Open petition was launched on the change.org website calling on Premier John Horgan, Health Minister Adrian Dix and provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry to keep gyms open with additional restrictions, and it’s approaching 30,000 signatures.

“The amount of support we have gained in such a small timeframe has been amazing to see, but is also a testament to how many people in B.C. are passionate about this,” wrote Dylan Ferguson, a Delta resident who launched the petition. “It makes no sense why large scale venues with triple the amount of people are still allowed to operate but gyms are not.”

Ferguson wrote letters to the government health officials emphasizing the direct impacts the closures will have on people’s physical and mental well-being and asking to explore other alternatives, according to the petition, and as of today had not received a response.

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Dr. Henry was asked by the media if there was a way to explain why fitness centres are closed while movie theatres are still open during a news conference today, Dec. 24.

“It’s about trying to find the balance of the higher risk activities,” she said. “At seated events you’re not exerting. I’m focusing on those areas that are indoor where we’re exerting, gyms being a classic example. We are seeing a lot of transmission through the very small droplets and the measures we have in place that were working for Delta and the other variants are just not enough at the moment.”

Dr. Henry said the incubation time for Omicron — the time between getting COVID and getting sick and able to transmit it — is now two to three days when it was five to seven days before.

“It’s spreading very rapidly and, because of that shorter incubation period, it’s before people can notify that next generation of spread,” she said.

When the media mentioned a group of gyms was staying open in Kamloops, Henry’s response was: “Gyms must close during this period.”

Defying a public health order can lead to fines, revoked business licenses and even jail time, according to provincial government.

Orders can be enforced by police or other compliance and enforcement officials.

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