Most gym owners in Hubballi-Dharwad to delay reopening centres

HUBBALLI: Notwithstanding the green signal by the central government for resumption of activities at gymnasiums from August 5, ,most fitness centres in Dharwad are unlikely to reopen from Wednesday, owing to the rising Covid-19 graph in the district. Fitness enthusiasts who have had to stay contented working out at home, will have to continue doing so for a week or two before all the gymnasiums across the district decide to throw open their doors.
Across Dharwad district, there are more than 300 gymnasiums, of which a mere 30% are likely to resume normal operations from Wednesday.Proprietors of gymnasiums have voiced reservations over the rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in the district, with more than 150 people being confirmed infected daily. However, some of the owners, having sustained heavy losses owing to the forced closure of their establishments, and struggling to pay rent, have decided to resume operations, come what may.
Prakash Pujari, owner of a gymnasium in Hubballi, said that he had decided to open the fitness centre when there was a perceptible slide in the number of Covid-19 cases being reported in Dharwad. “Our fear is that, in case of one of our staff getting infected, the gym will be sealed for a week or two, and all of us will have to isolate ourselves, which is why we have decided to delay reopening,” Pujari said.
Laveen Kumar, owner of another fitness centre in the district, said that there was bound to be crowding at the gym, given that it would be reopening after four months. “The chances of the infection spreading are likely to be higher, so I have decided to wait for a week to reopen the centre. We will have to make necessary arrangements such as splitting our patrons into batches to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus,” he said.
Anees Mohammad Dalal, owner of a gym in Hubli, said that he was working out the modalities of operations at the centre, on the completion of which he would reopen his gym after two or three days.
President of Association of Gym Owners, Dharwad district Anilkumar Patil said that owners of gymnasiums that have heavy equipment are not too keen to open their establishments too soon. “They are all chalking out plans to operate under the new setup,” said Patil, adding that all owners had been told to strictly adhere to the guidelines prescribed by the government.