Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Amandalina Letterio

COVID-19

Ministry of Health plans to enforce public health order to close as Kamloops gyms continue operations

Dec 31, 2021 | 4:23 PM

KAMLOOPS — Despite public health orders to close, many locally-owned Kamloops fitness centres continue to operate.

In over a week, they have yet to be shut down by the province.

The public health order aims to be lifted on Jan. 18, contingent on COVID-19 case counts dropping. But Ladies Only Fitness, No Limits Fitness and Gold’s Gym all posted the same message to each of their Facebook pages.

The message says: “…In this difficult time, our members need us for their physical, emotional and mental health. With the effectiveness of our current COVID safety policies, we are hopeful that we can remain operating responsibly and safely during this time.”

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After staying open a few days passed the mandate, Gold’s Gym decided to shut its doors on Dec. 26.

In its voicemail, the gym states that it hoped the Kamloops location could have stayed open.

“Despite having no reported in-club COVID transmission, we are sad to announce that no club-specific exception will be accepted at this time,” said the voice on the Gold’s Gym recording.

But both Ladies Only Fitness and No Limits Fitness are open for business. The owners of both gyms declined to comment on their decision.

“I figure if I can go to the bar and have a drink, I should be able to go to the gym and work on my mental health,” said Tanya Szabo, a member at No Limits Fitness. “It’s not that busy, it’s pretty spread out, and we all have to take a spray bottle and a cloth and wipe things as we go, so yeah, I feel safe in there.”

As for the other gyms that intend to remain open, Health Minister Adrian Dix says it won’t be long before B.C.’s health guidelines are enforced.

“My recommendation to everyone, is that they follow these orders, which were put in place seriously, thoughtfully and reluctantly. And do so until Jan. 18 when those orders will be renewed,” Dix explained. “And so, we will be moving, as we have throughout the pandemic, to enforce those orders.”