Should gyms be considered an essential service? This personal trainer thinks so

Two personal trainers have started a campaign hoping the Quebec government will recognize gyms as an essential service and reopen them. Premier Legault says measures seem to be working & restrictions will be ongoing for months. Tina Tenneriello reports.

By Tina Tenneriello and Kelsey Patterson

MONTREAL (CityNews) – A Montreal personal trainer has started a social media campaign to convince the Quebec government to recognize gyms as an essential service.

Sandrine Cassis is asking the Francois Legault government to reopen gyms in the province’s red zones, which includes Montreal.

A petition with more than 20,000 signatures is also circulating among Quebecers asking for the same thing.

“The reason I brought attention to this is to have people reflect on what is considered essential,” said Cassis. “Physical exercise is known to be so beneficial to people and our well being. Why are we being told it’s not essential?

“It’s a health crisis and I believe the gym is the place to go to feel better.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGDq3hQDkf2/

The Quebec government closed gyms and put an end to organized sports in red zones until at least Oct. 28.

According to Montreal public health authorities, there are currently 27 outbreaks of COVID-19 linked to the city’s gyms, restaurants, hotels, and temporary employment agencies. In comparison, there have been 19 such outbreaks in shops.

In Quebec, more than one case is considered an outbreak.

“Not everyone has the luxury to work out from home, the motivation, or the equipment,” said Cassis. “You can say the case came from the gym, how do you know it didn’t come from the SAQ or the mall or public transit?”

This summer in Calgary, more than 40 cases of COVID-19 were linked to a spinning fitness club. This week, a cycling studio in Hamilton was linked to 69 cases of COVID-19.

“We hear a lot of discussions, why this is open and that not open,” said epidemiologist Dr. Christopher Labos. “The thing that makes gyms a little bit more worrisome is the fact that people are exercising and breathing heavily. So if they have the virus, they are going to potentially spread it over a larger surface.”

Quebec Premier Francois Legault says COVID-19 numbers seem to be stabilizing following the increased restrictions, but the province is not out of the woods yet.

“We’ll have to live with the virus for many months,” said Legault at a press conference this week. “There’s no magic recipe. We have to avoid indoor gatherings of more than 15 minutes.”

The province is moving three additional regions into red alert: Monteregie, Centre-du-Quebec and Charlevoix. The government is not saying yet whether gyms, bars, and restaurants will be able to reopen Oct. 28.

“Let’s hope to be at the lowest level possible at the end of October,” said Quebec Health Minister Christian Dube. “The lower we have, the more room for maneuver we have.”

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