Atlantic Sports and Fitness Club in Krakow, Poland, rebranded itself as the 'Church of the Healthy Body' in a bid to stay open.
According to a Business Insider report dated October 19, 2020, a gym in Krakow, Poland called Atlantic Sports Fitness, rebranded itself as a 'Church of the Health Body' and its trainers as "elder council."
A Facebook post shared on the gym's official page said that since fitness classes cannot function, they would hold "religious gatherings of members of the union" called "Church of a Healthy Body." The gym further invited people to its "unique religious events." It said, "we invite you to test the exercise equipment in the Atlantic store, for the Church of the Healthy Body services conducted by our Council of Elders, i.e., not only mental coaches, and for squash competitions without the participation of the audience." The gym's manager further said that people's jobs and health would be at risk if they shut down.
Gyms have been high-risk areas through the pandemic. According to the BI report, the Canadian spin studio saw at least 72 people catch the virus despite strong hygiene measures. The report further quoted Infectious diseases expert Dr. Susan Hassig saying that going to gyms is a "medium- to high-risk" activity.
Thus, the claim that a gym in Poland rebranded itself as a church to evade new COVID-19 restrictions is true.
The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19, including symptoms, prevention, and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organization or your national healthcare authority.
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