The Virgin Active gym in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, has been closed until further notice after a member tested positive for the coronavirus. The gym confirmed this on Wednesday 18 March and said a specialist provider will be undertaking disinfection protocol.
The gym also announced that the Melrose Arch branch is the only branch that will be closed.
“All our clubs, excluding Melrose Arch, are open and fully operational,” it said.
Virgin Active member tests positive for coronavirus
Virgin Active explained that a member who visited the branch on 13 March tested positive for coronavirus.
“A specialist provider will undertake overnight disinfection protocol. If you experience any symptoms, please seek the necessary medical advice,” it said.
Virgin Active also recommended that other members who attended gym on that day, seek medical advice if they start displaying any coronavirus symptoms.
The disinfection protocol will be undertaken so that nobody else can contract the coronvirus from touching any gym equipment or using the bathrooms.
— Virgin Active (@virginactiveSA) March 15, 2020
Other Virgin Active gyms to remain open
The gym quoted President Cyril Ramaphosa saying that hygiene control is necessary. Therefore, it doesn’t mean gyms should be closed down completely.
“President Ramaphosa has called on all businesses such as the management of malls, entertainment centres and other places frequented by large numbers of people to bolster their hygiene control,” it said.
“We are committed to this and have stringent measures in place in answer to the President’s mandate and to ensure business continuity,” it added.
Social distancing
According to Ramaphosa, all South Africans should be undertaking social distancing and self-isolation, however, it is not a strict law — just a recommendation for now.
Social distancing is a set of non-pharmaceutical infection control actions intended to stop or slow down the spread of a contagious disease.
Self-isolation is an effective precautionary measure to protect those around you — your family, friends and colleagues from contracting coronavirus.
It means taking simple, common-sense steps to avoid close contact with other people as much as possible.
According to Business Tech, government has now gazetted new regulations giving effect to the prohibition of gatherings of more than 100 people, as well as empowering authorities to take legal action against those who deliberately expose others to the virus.
As of 19 March, 116 cases of coronavirus infection have been confirmed in South Africa, with the number expected to grow. Ramaphosa will meet with religious leaders on Thursday to reinforce the national response to coronavirus.
Source: The South African Read More
