Vitality members will get a one-time recharge of points to make up for the crash

Vitality members will receive the higher of the physical activity points earned from January to September 2019 or January to September 2020. Photo: Vitality

• Vitality offers members a one-time allocation of points to compensate for the loss of exercise or health exams during the lockdown.
• Gyms were closed for months, and many people were hesitant to go to tests for fear of contracting Covid-19.
• If you earned more points for exams and physical activity in 2019, you will earn last year’s points.
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Discovery Vitality announced that members will receive a one-time allocation of points to make up for the loss of exercise or health screenings during the lockdown.

“We understand that the restrictions associated with confinement have reduced physical activity and limited members’ ability to access screening services,” says Discovery Vitality CEO Dinesh Govender.

Many people were hesitant to go to hospitals and to the doctor for fear of contracting Covid-19.

Discovery recently reported that 51% fewer mammograms were performed during April through July, compared to 2019.

Additionally, the gyms were only able to reopen this month after being closed for nearly six months during the first part of the shutdown.

To compensate for this, Vitality may reward members this year, again, for assessments and exercise conducted in 2019.

Here’s how recharging points will work:

• Members will receive the highest of their 2019 and 2020 Vitality Health Check and Vitality Fitness Assessment points. If they have not yet completed one of these assessments this year and are not comfortable completing one before the end of the year, they will be awarded the same vitality points they earned last year.

• Points will be awarded for additional exams, like getting a Pap test or colonoscopy, and visiting the dentist in 2020 if members completed these exams last year.

• Points will also be awarded for a 2019 flu vaccine, as it was in short supply this year.

• Members will receive the higher of the physical activity points earned during the period January through September 2019 or January through September 2020.

Additional vitality points will be assigned automatically at the end of October 2020; no action is required from members.

Travel miles

Vitality also announced that its travel platform will reopen this week for hotel reservations and car rentals.

Vitality expects domestic flight bookings from kulula.com and British Airways to open at the end of October.

Comair, which owns kulula and manages British Airways in SA, was put on corporate bailout last year. The corporate rescue plan was recently approved, but R 1 billion is still needed to finance its return to operations.

When domestic flight reservations open, Vitality members will be rewarded with advance discounts of up to 75%, as well as 72 hours early access for flight reservations.

Vitality also announced other initiatives:

• Starting in 2021, Vitality members will be able to earn points at more than 300 other fitness facilities, as well as for home workouts view online offers. This is in addition to your gym benefits with Virgin Active and Planet Fitness.