In all previous correspondence with the FOPH, SECO and the cantons, swiss active – IG Fitness Switzerland had pointed out the fatal economic consequences of the corona measures for the fitness industry as well as the long-term health consequences of depriving part of the population of preventive health training. In light of current developments, swiss active – IG Fitness Schweiz no longer considers it justified to maintain the measures until the end of March and is calling for them to be lifted as soon as possible. The obligation to wear a mask during training should be lifted immediately.
“More than ever, the fitness industry is playing an important role in prevention,” says Roger Erni, Managing Director of swiss active – IG Fitness Switzerland. “Members use regular training at the fitness center to stay healthy, boost the body’s immune system, prevent musculoskeletal problems and avoid suffering from illnesses once they’ve been through them!”
The introduction and extension of the certification requirement to visit fitness centers has made it impossible for many members to access health-promoting training, at least temporarily, and has therefore caused health costs elsewhere due to inactivity. One indication of this is the significant increase in prescriptions for physiotherapy. “The prospect of training with a mask has deterred many members, especially in group courses,” adds Blaise Languin, CEO of Holmes Place.
Against the backdrop of current developments, with a continuing high proportion of new infections but a falling or stagnating number of hospital admissions, swiss active – IG Fitness Schweiz no longer sees any comprehensible reason to maintain the measures in this restrictive form. Also because the measures have been relaxed in other areas, such as on entry, the continued high level of measures for fitness centers and other sectors is incomprehensible.
As the test capacities are also completely overloaded, the basis for the 2G+ rule in particular no longer exists in practice. The obligation to wear a mask during training must therefore be dropped immediately – even if 2G is maintained.
Study proves low risk of infection in fitness centers
“EuropeActive, the European fitness industry association, published its second SafeACTiVE report before Christmas, which shows a low risk of infection with COVID-19 in the fitness clubs and leisure centers surveyed in nine different European countries,” informs Roger Erni. “With more than 185 million visits analyzed, the number of reported cases is 0.87, i.e. less than one case per 100,000 visits!” The report is based on extensive data collection and analysis by EuropeActive and its scientific partners at King Juan Carlos University, AWRC-Sheffield Hallam University and the research institute of ukactive, the British Fitness Center Association.
“The fitness industry has high certified training standards with the Qualitop seal, for example, and has had demonstrably good safety and hygiene concepts for decades, which are also regularly reviewed,” adds Roger Zürcher, COO of update Fitness.
swiss active – IG Fitness Schweiz has also repeatedly pointed out relevant economic effects that arise for fitness operators as a result of the measures. Due to further frequency slumps induced by the coronavirus measures with a lockdown in the strongest sales months at the beginning of 2021, the fitness industry can look back on an even worse result than in the first year of the pandemic in 2020.
“Maintaining the current measures until the end of March would again have devastating economic consequences for many operators in 2022,” states René Kalt, CEO of movemi AG.
For these reasons, and in view of the inadequate hardship measures to date, swiss active – IG Fitness Switzerland is calling on politicians to end the measures as quickly as possible.
However, swiss active – IG Fitness Switzerland is also calling on the population to continue to do their part in overcoming the pandemic, and the association believes this can only be achieved with a high vaccination rate: “Vaccination enables us to retain or regain our freedoms and it secures livelihoods!” concludes Roger Erni.
