The Return of the Gyms
It’s the second day that gyms across the country have been able to reopen since the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in March 2020. Since then, gyms have been ordered to close, but new regulations announced on Friday allows gyms to be open with fifty percent capacity. But the prolonged closure has affected the business of gyms across the country. Today, News Five Reporter Hipolito Novelo found out that gym owners are still struggling to keep their businesses running.
Hipolito Novelo, Reporting
It’s been months since the government ordered the shutdown of all gyms to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The news dealt a near-fatal blow to gym owners who for many months, lost thousands of dollars and dozens of members.
Oyinkro Akpobodor
Oyinkro Akpobodor, Co-Owner, Neil and Gordon Gym
“The gym for me is over sixty percent of my income for the month or year. So when it was closed from since March 2020 it took a toll on me physically and financially as well to. We have been trying to survive, basically be on survival mode.”
If being closed wasn’t bad enough, owner of Body 2000 on Coney Drive Mark Neal was still being charged the trade license fee. Body 2000 was closed for almost a year, and Neil still had to pay more than four thousand dollars in the license fee.
Mark Neal
Mark Neal, Owner, Body 2000
“Oohh it is a challenge. It is very, very difficult and the thing is you are close but the bills keep coming because you cannot just cut your bills off because you have to go through all the changes back and reapply. The other thing that bothered me is that you still have to pay City Council the Trade license and trade license for this size of building, you are talking about four thousand three hundred.”
Neil and Gordon Gym on Cemetery Road in Belize City were effectively put in a coma, and gym owner Oyinkro Akpobodor was forced to be creative, hosting sessions online to keep members and generate whatever revenue he can.
Oyinkro Akpobodor
“For me, during the pandemic, I went online. Zoom with my clients and we did a lot of running as well in the evening time. They giving us the opportunity to open up back, I appreciate that and we will do our best to follow all regulations and guidelines set by them. Some of the rules we have is to have hand sanitizer around People who walk in have to sign in and the tester. We have been following that and right now we have max capacity of around twenty-two people per session. We give enough space for social distancing and telling to please have their mask on.”
So now the news of gyms being allowed to operate with fifty percent capacity is welcomed. And these gyms owners have to abide by specific rules to prevent an increase of COVID cases. At Body 2000, there are signs everywhere. Wherever you turn, there is hand sanitizer, and clients have to follow a very specific rule.
Mark Neal
“Before you use, you wipe. After you use, you wipe and from there you can also alcohol your hands after you wipe. It is a process that you go through. Once you are a member of the gym, you will know that it is a process that you go through before you use any equipment, you wipe it and when you done you wipe it.”
And so far, members are slowly returning to the gyms.
Oyinkro Akpobodor
“It has been okay. We had over sixty five people yesterday, not at once of course. Throughout the day. Our Neil and Gordon loyals are coming back slowly. We appreciate them for that too and we are thankful for that. They are happy. A few of them put on some weight. Some lost some weight too.”
Mark Neal
“It is picking up slowly, slowly and slowly. Today is a more brighter day, a more active day and I think going more into the week, I know people have bills and stuff but we are looking forward because it is frustrating to go to be at eight and wake up at five or before early. We get a lot of phone calls. We get appointments. You have to call first, make an appointment.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Hipolito Novelo.
