Keeping gyms shut is hurting health

SIR, – Given the high levels of obesity in Scotland and that Covid-19 is harder to overcome if overweight, a fact recently acknowledged by Boris Johnson, it was very surprising to see last week that the Scottish Government pushed back the opening date for gyms, with a provisional date now set for mid-September.

Then Nicola Sturgeon stated that her priorities were ending shielding and getting children back to school, but it is very difficult to see how these two groups of people could have an impact on the reopening of gyms.

Leading figures from the gym sector have offered to show the Scottish Government the safety measures they have in place and, if the measures pass the test, then they should be allowed to reopen.

By keeping gyms closed it is not only impacting people’s health and wellbeing, it also affecting the livelihoods of those employed in the sector.

Therefore perhaps at one of her next daily briefings the first minister can give a clear explanation why a sector that provides benefits to individuals in the fight against this virus remains closed.

Mhairi E Rennie, Finlayson Street, Fraserburgh