BC gyms will be allowed to reopen this week

Gyms in BC will be allowed to reopen starting on Jan 20.

Provincial health officer Dr Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix updated the province today on the public health order that was initially issued on Dec 22 due to the surge of the Omicron variant in the province.

Henry said that she is taking the “cautious step” of reopening gyms and fitness centres. Capacity limits of 25 people for all group and fitness classes and proof of vaccination will be in place.

There will also be spacing requirements of 7m². This will apply to people working out on their own and group fitness.

Masks must be worn at all times “except when people are exercising” said Henry, however she said she does encourage mask-wearing given the transmission of Omicron. Fitness and gym employees and instructors must wear masks at all times as well.

Henry said her decision to reopen gyms and fitness centres wasn’t a result of public pressure but rather something the province “considered very carefully” and examined the risks around vigorous exercise.

The order also closed liquor-primary establishments like bars and nightclubs and limited attendance at events and gatherings. These restrictions will remain in place until Feb 16 when they will be reassessed.

The announcement comes after the province extended the order for gyms, events, bars, and clubs Monday afternoon as it was set to expire at 12:01am on Jan 18.

Henry apologized for the communication issue. She said the orders were extended to allow her to “provide clear direction” at Tuesday’s briefing.

Henry said there will be no change to the current proof of vaccination policy in the province and vaccine cards will continue to be required to access events, services, and businesses.

The vaccine passport was introduced in August 2021 and was supposed to be in place until Jan 31, 2022, as Henry said the province was “hoping we’d be in a place where it was no longer needed but that’s not the case.”

She said it is an effective tool in helping mitigate health and safety risks for businesses.

“We are looking at extending it to be able to support businesses and support people in having confidence in going to theatres and restaurants and gyms in the future but we have not made the final decisions on whether it will be expanded or in some places removed and how long we’ll do that for,” she said.