Business Illawarra has called for the urgent return of businesses that can be done in a COVID-safe environment for fully vaccinated staff and customers.
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The lockdown was having a significant and damaging impact on the Illawarra economy, as well as the livelihoods and mental health of small business owners, executive director Adam Zarth said.
With the significant increase in vaccination rates, reopening low-risk businesses - particularly those that are primarily based outdoors, such as outdoor personal trainers or hospitality venues with outdoor seating - to people who are fully vaccinated should be a priority, he said.
Mr Zarth also called on the the NSW Government to provide clear guidance and a roadmap for businesses so they can start to plan their re-opening and have all necessary controls in place from day one.
"Of course, those businesses must continue to operate in a COVID-safe way, combining vaccination with other COVID controls such as QR code registration, face masks and social distancing," he said.
"We also need to make it easier for businesses to prioritise safety by having a straightforward method for customers and staff to prove their vaccination status."
Savvy Fitness owner Angela Saville is among many personal training businesses in Wollongong and Shellharbour that would welcome the return of group training.
She said her team of 15 personal trainers were still employed, providing online or one-on-one classes at a safe social distance.
But she knows there is demand for group sessions outdoors.
"Our business is primarily outdoors," Mrs Saville said.
"When the lockdown first happened there was about three weeks where we could reduce our numbers to 10 in a group and we could still operate classes. We had them all well spaced out and we followed all the COVID protocols.
"Then when the lockdown restrictions hardened we were still allowed to do one-on-one personal training sessions. The trainers wear masks and follow all the protocols.
"We have had more people take that style of training up because at the moment all our other services are completely online and people have found it difficult crossing over to that online environment. Many feel that just need that little extra support and personalised accountability."
Mrs Saville said from a business perspective it is far more cost effective to do group sessions and she would be keen to do that again in the safest possible way. She said her team of trainers were really good at following all the protocols.
"The sooner we get back outside the better. We have always taken government advice very seriously. We will definitely go back to group sessions if we are allowed to and we will do that in the safest way possible.
"I am really confident in our protocols and the way the way our staff manage each situation. I think it is still going to be difficult going back to small groups. But it is going to be better than nothing because I think people are really crying out to get some normality, fitness and exercise back into their lives."
Mr Zarth said it was important to consider how we live with the virus and there should be incentives and encouragement for people to get vaccinated.
He said locally, the #VaxTheIllawarra campaign was an initiative aimed at encouraging our community to be the first to reach 80 per cent fully vaccinated.
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