Johannesburg – This week, Virgin Active announced it would be laying off more than 3 000 staff members as a result of gyms being closed since late March. The company has not collected any membership subscriptions since the beginning of the lockdown in March, and resolved it would assist employees with a 25% contribution towards their salaries during the period of lockdown closure.
“The department is aware of the impact that Covid-19 has had on the country as a whole and at this stage our focus is trying to motivate to get the industry to open without a risk of increasing the spread of the virus, so that the economy can benefit. She said government had made no commitments or promises regarding the reopening of gyms, but had requested plans, which had since been received, perused and shared with the Health Department.“There was no expectation created by the Department that permission would be provided. The department advised the industry to submit their plans for analysis and assessment. However, gyms and fitness centres are still closed as per regulations.