Speaking in response to an online petition calling for gyms to reopen, Deputy Richard Renouf said that ministers took a ‘cautious approach’ and banned indoor sports activity in the face of rising case numbers.
The petition, which said the venues should open due to their physical and mental health benefits, has so far received more than 4,300 signatures.
Commenting on the cluster which affected both customers and personal trainers, the Deputy said that the infected individuals had an average of nine close contacts, all of whom were required to isolate. One person had 32 contacts.
He added: ‘At least a further 20 cases have been identified
across six other indoor exercise settings during a likely infectious period.
‘Additionally, we know that the 20- to 40-year age group is both a strong demographic in this sector and linked with community spread.
‘Risk had been established in the local context and therefore a cautious approach was taken in order to protect Islanders from further spread in the context of increasing case numbers. This is consistent with other measures taken to minimise the potential for people gathering.’
While Deputy Renouf’s response recognised the importance of indoor sport in supporting the health and wellbeing of Islanders, he said the safety of customers, staff, volunteers and their families always remained the priority and the government’s targeted approach led to the
‘difficult decision’ to temporarily close indoor sport and exercise venues.
‘Evidence shows that gyms and other providers of indoor exercise are lower risk when compared to hospitality.
‘However, they are not risk-free. Accordingly, when gyms were open there were restrictions in place regarding the intensity levels, with the stipulation that only low or moderate intensity activity was permissible.’
He added: ‘We will continually monitor the situation with a view to relaxing this measure as soon as it is safe to do so.’
