Gyms reopening may be delayed due to MECQ return

Gyms may have to postpone their reopening after President Duterte announced that modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) will return in several areas on August 4 to 18, following the appeal of healthcare workers for stricter quarantine measures.

The areas that will return to MECQ are Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal, and Cavite. Fitness establishments at the end of July were given the green light to operate at 30 percent capacity.

Fitness First posted a statement in their Facebook page: "Following the announcement issued by the President yesterday evening...we regret to inform you that our Fitness First clubs will not be able to resume operations today (August 3) as planned."

"Our team has been eagerly preparing for your return and while we are saddened with the news, we feel it’s our responsibility to play a part in helping protect our frontliners and curb the spread of the virus," the establishment added.

Establishments Maic's Gym and Gold's Gym also released similar announcements.

The MECQ is the second highest level of quarantine in which Category 4 businesses are not allowed to operate, which include gyms, barbershops and salons, and personal care establishments.

Meanwhile, the medical community said the country’s healthcare system is already overwhelmed and that frontliners are already “burned out” in an August 1 letter, according to online reports.

The community recommended that the two-week “timeout,” or revert to ECQ, will be used to address “healthcare workforce deficiency, failure of case finding and isolation, failure of contact tracing and quarantine, transportation safety, workplace safety public compliance.”

The country’s COVID-19 tally hit past 103,000 on August 2.

Photo is from Intercontinental Manila Golds Gym