Coronavirus: Hong Kong fitness chain Pure Group to close all venues for cleaning after two cases linked to gyms
- One patient visited Pure Group’s centres at California Tower in Lan Kwai Fong on March 11, ICBC Tower on March 14, and Kinwick Centre on Monday
- A second confirmed case had also visited fitness centre in Lan Kwai Fong, according to the Centre for Health Protection
A Hong Kong fitness chain that sparked anger when it initially refused to close a gym visited by two people later confirmed as coronavirus cases will shut down three venues for a fortnight and cease its remaining operations for two days.
The Pure Group faced criticism on social media on Thursday for allowing three of its clubs in Central to stay open amid fears they could be a source of transmission.
In the evening, the group released a statement saying the three centres in question would be closed with immediate effect for two weeks and reopen on April 2, while staff including trainers who had contact with the infected patients would be quarantined.
As a precaution, all remaining gyms under its network would be closed for two days and reopen on Sunday. All locations will undergo thorough and deep cleaning, according to the chain.
The group, which has at least 12 yoga centres and 11 gyms across the city, sent out a message on Thursday morning, confirming a member had tested positive for the coronavirus.
The message said the person appeared to have recently visited three centres in Central – Pure Fitness California Tower in Lan Kwai Fong on March 11, Pure Fitness ICBC Tower on March 14 and Pure Fitness Kinwick Centre on Monday. The member started feeling unwell on Tuesday and tested positive for the virus on Wednesday.