On Oct. 26, Quebec Premier Francois Legault announced that Montreal’s red zone restrictions would be extended until Nov. 23. This, among other things, means that gyms and fitness centres in the Montreal region are to remain closed.
A group called Centres d’activités physiques du Québec, composed of some 200 fitness professionals, stated that they planned to resume operations despite this directive, defying the government restriction. Due to the threat of large fines, however, many have since backed down.
Still, this pushback is necessary for the government to be held accountable for the restrictions it is implementing—specifically, on what basis it is implementing them. There is very little data to support the idea that gyms are unsafe: There have been no recorded COVID-19 outbreaks linked to gyms or fitness centres in Montreal. In fact, a Europe-wide study, commissioned by EuropeActive and conducted by Sheffield Hallam University and Kin Juan Carlos University, found that of the 62 million visits to the gym, there were only 487 reported positive cases, making the average infection rate only 0.78 per cent per 100,000 visits. Another study conducted in the U.S. by the IHRSA and MXM collected data from fitness clubs that opened during the beginning of May, and found that of 49.4 million check-ins, the incidence of COVID-19 cases was 0.002 per cent. According to these studies, the risk of COVID-19 spreading at gyms appears statistically insignificant. The Quebec government’s decision to close gyms, therefore, seems misguided—and ought to be challenged.
As the winter months approach, opportunities for outdoor exercise will dwindle. Days will get darker and colder, and the few outdoor fitness activities people have been able to do will quickly become more difficult. In order to help fight the virus, it is imperative for people’s physical and mental health that they are able to exercise. Many Montrealers are already facing increasing isolation due to red zone restrictions. Many work or study at home, live alone, or are unable to see their friends and family. If they are also not able to exercise, their overall health and well-being will undoubtedly suffer.
Students in particular will suffer if gyms remain closed. McGill students are facing a primarily online fall and winter semester. This means most students spend much of their time sitting at home on their computer, rarely—if ever—on campus or interacting with their peers and professors. Some students live alone, and due to restrictions, do not often leave their homes. If the government is asking them to sacrifice their ability to exercise as well, it must provide sufficient evidence to support that decision.
Aspects of the government’s current strategy, which has Montreal constantly in and out of lockdown, are ineffective, as was pointed out in a leaked report from Montreal’s health authority. Some restrictions, such as those in place for gyms, are implemented without proper evidence to support them and without considering the other effects they may have. This reactionary strategy seems only to take into account overall case numbers. This results in enforced restrictions and closures, some of which, like those on gyms, are not based on evidence and can potentially be detrimental to people’s health and well-being. The government needs to devise a consistent long-term strategy that factors in more than simply the overall number of COVID-19 cases, and consider the effect their restrictions will have on not just case numbers, but also on people’s well-being.
Some of the government’s policies in response to COVID-19 are haphazard at best. Gyms do not appear to pose a significant threat for COVID-19 transmission. People need to try to get back to some semblance of a normal life, as the current approach to tackling the virus strains our overall well-being. In the coming months, gyms are not going to be detrimental to health, but rather essential for it.
I’m not even from McGill and I google ‘Gyms reopening Quebec’ every single day hoping for a 180 on the decision to keep them closed, so I came across this article. At the moment gyms are frequented by much fewer people than restaurants/pubs – only serious fitness enthusiasts who are in good physical health and need it for their mental well-being, plus most big names like Nautilus Fitness were already keeping tabs on the hygiene/COVID prevention measures and the number of people present in the gym every hour of the day (which could be seen on the app, and almost never exceeded 10% to 25% capacity). This decision negates all these steps taken by gyms to make them more COVID-proof. Also like you rightly stated, there’s no real data yet to suggest gyms have caused an outbreak or a surge in cases – especially when they opened the second time in June-July with measures in place.
And I’m exactly the demographic you’re talking about – moved to Montreal during the pandemic, no family or friends to come over. Gym was a really important part of my day to keep me upbeat and have something to look forward to apart from work. Sigh. Hoping they reopen them later this month, fingers crossed.
Quebec politicians are amateurs at best. Instead of having a controlled, steady approach to the pandemic, it’s all or nothing. Remember when many restrictions were lifted in the summer and gathering of up to 100 individuals allowed. I guess we are paying the price for that now. Gyms should be allowed to reopen with extra safety measures at least now, due to Quebec’s brutal winters.
The author cites garbage sources as “evidence” for her specious arguments. Everyone wants gyms to reopen and life to continue as normal, but how can one be so willfully ignorant as to claim that no outbreaks are linked to gyms, then support their absurd claim with studies from other countries with different rules and circumstances? Gyms in Montreal have allowed people to go maskless, which is horribly risky. On top of that, exercise expels air and droplets much further than talking or breathing normally, which just increases the risks that gyms – indoor settings – pose. The government has certainly been negligent in handling rules, giving people mixed messages, but it is silly to claim that gyms do not pose a risk with case loads being what they are and the rules being what they are. Grow up.
Same as Aman has mentioned in the first comments, I am also not from McGill and just came across this article as I everyday search any news or update to find out when the gyms are going to reopen again since they are forced to close at the end of Oct 2020.
I am 100% agree with this article as there is no link of any information as the gyms & fitness centers are a source of spreading the virus, it’s a big NO.
I am a professional bodybuilder and I must have to be in the gym every day or at least 5 days a week to keep myself in good shape muscle size and it is absolutely right that physical exercise makes you mentally healthy and you perform well in your daily life!
ABC World Gym is the place I am a member and we have all necessary steps were taken by the management entering and leaving the gym and while using the weights and machines need to clean before and after, keeping distance, do not use the washrooms or toilet like before, etc even though when Quebec govt get more restricted the gym management made the decision to only allow members by a schedule approval and one time in a day and only 1:1 training that means only one member with a private trainer are allowed in that scheduled hour in the entire gym, rest all sections were closed so with this much restrictions I don’t see we are spreading virus…..so please GROW UP
https://abcnews.go.com/Health/gyms-maskless-users-shown-high-risk-covid-spread/story?id=76091541&cid=clicksource_4380645_16_post_hero_card_hed