''We are an essential business for people's mental health.''
A Dublin gym owner says he will defy level 5 restrictions and keep his business open tomorrow.
Westside Gym in Blanchardstown will open to members, and its owner says he's doing so for mental health reasons.
He says the decision to close gyms in Manchester and Liverpool in the UK has been reversed and the same should happen here.
''Both from a mental heath and a financial point of view, I just don't feel like the supports are in place at the moment for people not to have that outlet'', Simon, the owner, said.
''And I think now is the time for people and gym owners especially to stand up and say that we are an essential business for people's mental health, and that's how I feel about it''.
Ireland active advice.
Meanwhile, Ireland Active - the national association for the sector - is advising that operators comply with the government restrictions which require gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools to close as of midnight tonight.
The group says it understands this will place significant challenges on businesses and it will continue to engage with government to gain supports for the industry.
Level 5 restrictions Covid-19 restrictions will come into effect at midnight tonight, which means gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools will all be closed.
Meanwhile no training or matches should take place, with the following exceptions:
- non-contact training can continue for school aged children, outdoors in pods of 15
- professional, elite sports and inter-county Gaelic games, horse-racing and greyhound racing are permitted to continue behind closed doors
All other training activities should be individual only.
No exercise or dance classes are permitted.
