Fitness centres have no takers

Gym owners seek government concessions to tide over the crisis

The government’s nod to reopen gymnasiums from July 8 is yet to bring cheer to fitness trainers as health clubs have reported very low attendance on the first two days. Additional safety measures have not helped boost the confidence of fitness enthusiasts much as many are worried over the possible third wave of the pandemic. The people who earlier flocked to gyms are now opting for regular exercises at open places, parks or are joining online yoga classes to ensure physical distancing. President of the Visakha Gym Owners’ Welfare Association K. Ganesh who runs a health club near Rama Talkies says that in the first two days, the attendance was in single digits. Following apprehension over an early outbreak of the third COVID-19 wave and the news of various variants of the virus surfacing in several States, people are afraid of coming to gyms.