Iron Energy Gym in West Kelowna kept its doors open despite public health orders, but the city decided not to renew its business license for 2022.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Iron Energy Gym

A West Kelowna gym has been forced to close after refusing to abide by public health orders and the city declined to renew its business license.

Iron Energy Gym chose to keep its doors open despite public health orders that specified certain fitness facilities must close as COVID-19 cases began to rise again in B.C.

Several posts on the gym's social media said that gyms are essential for the mental health of its members, and to close them would be detrimental. No one at Iron Energy Gym was immediately available for comment.

The City of West Kelowna, after discussions with Interior Health on the matter, decided not to renew Iron Energy Gym's business license this year.

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"We have not issued the 2022 business license renewal for Iron Energy Fitness Centre, 104 – 2476 Westlake Rd., at this time, as the business is operating in contravention of a public health order. The city will review this decision after further consultation with Interior Health," West Kelowna said in a statement.

City spokesperson Jason Luciw said any further inquiries should be made with Interior Health, as it is related to a public health order.

Interior Health said in a written statement it expects all fitness facilities to comply with the order, adding that "further steps will be taken" for gyms that remain open despite "initial enforcement actions."

The health authority has followed up with 15 fitness facilities and issued five warning letters since the order was instated on Dec. 22. RCMP have also issued $2,300 in fines.

"Now is the time we all need to work together to reduce the impact of Omicron in our communities," the Interior Health statement reads. "Interior Health recognizes the importance of physical activity for people, both physically and emotionally, and we urge people to look at alternatives as we collectively reduce the risk of further COVID-19 exposures in our communities. A number of fitness facilities have already done this, with virtual classes and workouts."

At a Tuesday press conference, public health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked about the order that specifies gyms must close to slow viral transmission.

"The reality is, and we've seen this repeatedly, these are indoor activities with adults in a group even wearing a mask where the risk is higher. It just is. When we have a lot of transmission in the community, gyms become amplifiers," she said.

READ MORE: Omicron variant makes up 80% of COVID-19 case in B.C.

Dr. Henry said she did not have the data available at the time, but that health authorities have been studying locations where transmission is more prevalent.

The highly infectious Omicron variant of COVID-19 now makes up over 80% of confirmed cases across B.C., according to the Ministry of Health.

More than 9,000 new COVID-19 cases were confirmed on the days between Dec. 31 and Jan. 3, marking some of the highest daily totals the province has experienced since the global pandemic was declared.

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— This story was updated at 5:29 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2022 with a statement from Interior Health.

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