🥁 Axios PM: Gyms battle Omicron

Photo: Confetti "flight test" | Wednesday, December 29, 2021

Open in app View in browser   Presented By Abbott   Axios PM By Mike Allen ·Dec 29, 2021 Good Wednesday afternoon: Today's PM — edited by Justin Green — is 424 words, a 1.5-minute read.     1 big thing: Gyms battle Omicron Photo: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images   The Omicron variant is threatening the recovery of the fitness industry, reports Axios' Oriana Gonzalez. Why it matters: January is an extremely important month for the industry, which thrives on New Year's resolution memberships. The big picture: 27% of the gyms open in 2019 had permanently closed by summer 2021, per IHRSA, the global health and fitness coalition. Visits were down 30% in mid-February compared to 2019. Additionally, the fitness industry lost 47% of its workforce during the pandemic. Globally, gyms, studios and in-person fitness classes saw a 37% revenue decline in 2020, per the Global Wellness Institute. The bottom line: Marc Thomas, who owns 40 Orangetheory Fitness locations in California, told The Wall Street Journal that revenue for his best gyms is 30% lower than that before the pandemic. Some gyms in Ohio don't expect to get membership increases until after the winter surge, according to a local CBS affiliate.     2. 🎮 New Tetris generation Photos: Mark Lennihan/Associated Press Interest in the vintage video game Tetris is growing, with rising applications for Classic Tetris World Championships and a boom in "tournament Tetris," the N.Y. Times' Zach Schonbrun reports (subscription). Why it matters: Competitors in Tetris — which launched in 1984, 37 years ago — are getting younger, tournament organizers say. Nostalgia seems to be a lesser factor. In 2018, the longtime world Tetris champion — Jonas Neubauer of California, then 37 — lost to 16-year-old Joseph Saelee. "To the sport of competitive Tetris, it was a Buster Douglas moment" — and a win for the YouTube generation, The Times notes. On Twitch, the platform that lets you watch your favorite gamer play live, two of the top attractions are Fort Worth, Texas, brothers Michael and Andy Artiaga, ages 14 and 16.     A message from Abbott Here's how Abbott ensures tests detect COVID Omicron, other variants     Abbott monitors COVID-19 mutations, including the Omicron variant. They're confident their rapid and PCR tests can detect the virus. The takeaway: While the Omicron variant contains mutations to the spike protein, Abbott's rapid and molecular tests — antigen and PCR — do not rely on the spike.     3. Catch up quick Greece is banning music and standing customers on New Year's to tamp down on the Omicron spread — with all public celebrations canceled. Go deeper. Citing a surge in COVID among staff, the Smithsonian will close four museums for the remainder of the holidays. 🌡 It's hot up there: Kodiak, Alaska, recorded an air temperature of 67°F on Dec. 26, which if verified would become the state's record high for the month.     4. 📷 Parting shot Photo: Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images In Times Square today, a confetti "flight test" was staged from the Hard Rock Cafe marquee, ahead of scaled-back New Year's Eve festivities. Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced 15,000 socially distanced revelers will be allowed — about a quarter of the usual 58,000. San Francisco canceled its New Year's fireworks show.     A message from Abbott Flu vs. COVID: how to tell similar symptoms apart     First things first: COVID-19 isn't the flu. And the flu isn't COVID-19. But these viruses can have the appearance of nearly being twins. Symptoms for both can include fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat, body aches, headache and even a loss of taste or smell.   Like this email style and format? Bring the strength of Smart Brevity® to your team — more effective communications, powered by Axios HQ.   Axios thanks our partners for supporting our newsletters. If you're interested in advertising, learn more here. Sponsorship has no influence on editorial content. Axios, 3100 Clarendon B‌lvd, Suite 1300, Arlington VA 22201   You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from Axios. Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.   Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up now to get Axios in your inbox.   Follow Axios on social media: