The coronavirus cabinet on Monday is set to approve scrapping the Green Pass restrictions in gyms despite concerns of some fitness centers' owners and medical professionals.
Israel on Sunday began officially enforcing the scanning of QR codes for Green Passes before holders of the digital certificate are allowed entry into facilities that must comply with the government program to contain the coronavirus.
Many fitness trainers and gym owners oppose the potential scrapping of the Green Pass, arguing the move could prevent the gym goers from going inside for fear of contracting the virus. "People will want to protect themselves, and rightfully so," one personal trainer said.
Shiri, a 40-year-old woman who trains regularly in a studio in the center of the country told Ynet the Green Pass should remain in effect in studios like the one she frequents. "It is a confined area where people exercise and we want to feel we are safe from the coronavirus. We don't train with masks after all, " she said.
The owner of her studio has been very meticulous to check that only vaccinated people or those who can exhibit a recent negative COVID test, were able to enter.
"Only a small number of people chose not to get their shots and they are kept away," she said but thought that now people who have been vaccinated will stay away and "gyms will suffer because there are many more people who have been given vaccines than those who have not," she said.
"Perhaps we should train outdoors … Canceling the requirement for the Green Pass is not the solution," she said, adding that perhaps she could train outdoors.
Gym owner Rotem Glikman says her clients, especially those who are in high-risk groups, will likely no longer come to the gym.
"They've been very vigilant and made sure that only vaccinated people could enter the facility," she said. "This is sure to hurt me financially more than I've been hurt before," she said.
"Those who do continue to come will now argue over keeping doors and windows open and over spaces nearest to the windows," Glikman said.
Ofer Nir, a personal trainer is also opposing the move. "I believe the vaccines were the only solution to the virus and those who refuse vaccines can hurt the rest of us so in my view the Green Pass should remain in place," he said.
Some health officials are also opposed to the Green Pass restrictions being lifted in gyms, despite the Health Ministry's position in support of the move. This, they note, is the first-time restrictions are lifted from indoor settings.
"I think this is a wrong decision especially where ventilation is not good enough," said Professor Ronit Calderon from the Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine at the Hebrew University. "In gyms people are often crowded together while they inhale and exhale forcefully when exercising, and although the wave of morbidity is winding down, people are still getting infected by the virus. I don’t understand the rush," she said.
"Theatres and concert halls can be exempted from Green Pass restrictions because windows there can be opened and people inside are not engaged in physical activity," she said.
Professor Yehuda Adler, a cardiologist and internists from the Sheba Medical Center, said the number of new daily cases remains high and hundreds are still seriously ill with COVID.
"Any unvaccinated person who enters a gym can infect everyone there," he said.
While Dr. Adi Niv-Yagoda, who is a member of the panel that advises the government on the pandemic, said some restrictions can be lifted as morbidity drops, but decisions must be made after careful consideration.
"We must not forget how little we still know about the coronavirus and must also consider the fact that winter is coming and will bring with it other challenges to hospital and health care providers. In settings such as gyms there is a potential of contagion and if restrictions are lifted – the situation must be monitored closely and reversed if necessary," he said.