Omicron: Hong Kong gym goers decry ‘unjust’ closures as fitness centres and pools scramble once again to make ends meet financially
- Memo sent to government from Hong Kong Fitness Industry says gyms and studios cannot survive another lockdown
- Owners and coaches say another lockdown gives impression there is no end game for the city’s Covid-19 strategy
Hong Kong’s gym and fitness industry pleaded with the government not to force its members to endure yet another shutdown as the threat of a Covid-19 outbreak lurks once again, according to an internal memo obtained by the Post.
The Hong Kong Fitness Industry, which represents dozens of local establishments, said businesses could not bear the financial burden of another closure and acceptance was waning amid the business community for financial relief.
“The closure announced for fitness centres will once again financially damage an already weakened system from previous closures,” read the memo. “The financial impact is evident with many landlords unwilling to even provide 50 per cent relief in rent as they too are fatigued with ongoing closures.
“It has taken us over 10 months to rebuild the business and hire new employees to stabilise our businesses financially.”
The measures were introduced just a day after Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said they were not required, adding a “swift and sharp” response was needed to combat the spread of the Omicron variant.
