Gyms relieved, nightclubs disappointed as B.C. updates COVID-19 restrictions
In December, as the number of Omicron cases started to surge, B.C.’s provincial health officer ordered fitness facilities and liquor-only establishments to close their doors.
On Tuesday, Dr. Bonnie Henry announced gyms could re-open on Jan. 20 – but pubs and nightclubs must remain closed until at least Feb. 16.
“So industry is frustrated,” said Jeff Guignard with the B.C. Alliance of Beverage Licensees.
“The challenge is for businesses like nightclubs, which do have a path forward providing they can offer full meal service, which they can do with a food truck or a catering company, but that’s not going to work for all establishments."
Guignard is now asking the province to extend the COVID-19 relief grants to businesses that remain closed for another month, and increase it to $10,000 per business.
“We have no confidence at all the orders will not be added or extended after Feb. 15. I think that information doesn’t exist yet, so we will have to wait and see where we are, which means another month of holding our breath,” said Guignard.
At Club 16 Trevor Linden Fitness, staff are being called back and equipment is being cleaned in anticipation of a Thursday re-opening.
Director of operations Carl Ulmer said his heart goes out to businesses that have to remain closed, but he’s relieved gyms can welcome back members.
“In terms of mental health, we needed gyms to get back open,“ said Ulmer. “We provide a service above and beyond paying taxes and employing people, we provide health and wellness for British Columbians.”
He says Club 16 has already spaced out its equipment to abide by Dr. Bonnie Henry’s order to maintain seven square metres of space for every member.
“We don’t have a booking system, we are confident our capacity will allow our members to come in and out with ease,” Ulmer said, adding if there is wait time it should be short, and everyone will be held to an hour and half maximum in the gym.
While members are not required to wear masks while they’re exercising, Ulmer and Henry are both encouraging them to keep the mask on for their work out, if they can.
“Our staff are wearing masks at all times, we are staying distanced, we are cleaning equipment before and after use, we are cleaning high touch points,” said Ulmer.
He hopes the extra precautions will be enough to bring members back after a four week absence, adding “We are super excited to open on Thursday at 10 a.m.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.