MARGAO
Fitness enthusiasts cannot rejoice as yet as gyms are not gearing up to open as the State government has not given its nod to open fitness centres after extending the current COVID-19 curfew imposed to curb the spread of novel coronavirus cases.
Sports activities have come to a halt because of the pandemic and the unforeseen crisis has affected the finances of several sports-related businesses in the State.
Govind Lotlikar, the owner of Infinity Gym, Margao, is suffering huge losses in these “dark times”.
“We have endured big losses since our gates were shut. I had to shell out money through my pocket to pay the salaries of the staff. I had to be careful about the usage of electricity,” Lotlikar said. “We, along with the Fitness association president will meet Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and apprise him of the losses incurred by us.”
Lotlikar said the issue of safety through sanitisation of the gym, apart from ensuring that clients follow certain precautions will be discussed.
Echoing the same, Sarvar Khan, the owner Curchorem Power Fitness Plus, said in addition to sanitising, it will also be ensured that a limited number of users at the premises will be allowed by allocating them time-slots if the government gives them permission to re-open gyms.
“We will tell our regular clients to follow specific time slots to ensure there are only 15 to 20 members on the floor at any given time. We are going to put some ground rules, like telling the clients to carry their own water bottles and mats, etc. We will also request the clients to let us know if they wish to change their time slot to ensure the number of people remains the same,” said Khan. The safety schedule will also include sanitising every machine after every time slot.
The threat of coronavirus has left the fitness industry ailing and barely able to stand with smaller gyms on the verge of shutting down, larger chains contemplating huge losses and unemployment becoming a very real prospect for hundreds of trainers and support staff.
It has been months since gyms across the country shut shop and the industry is already crumbling under the pressure of the COVID-19. The pandemic that has led to a lockdown in many parts of the country has hit fitness centres big and small very badly.
“We have sent a lot of staff on unpaid leave. We have no other option.
I have to pay the gym rent as well as the trainers' salaries. If the curfew extends further, then the situation can go worse. To prevent the businesses from running completely dry, I request CM Sawant to take a necessary decision which will help gym owners and the working staff of the fitness industry,” Molu Dessai of Cuncolim Fitness and Gym said.
