Gyms And Swimming Pools To Reopen On July 25 As Lockdown Eased
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Gyms, swimming pools and leisure centres will reopen on July 25 as the government announced further coronavirus lockdown restrictions would be lifted.
Speaking at the Downing Street briefing, culture secretary Oliver Dowden called on the public to “work out to help out”, but he warned fitness businesses that strict social distancing measures must be put in place to protect people from infection.
Dowden said face coverings would not need to be worn as a “whole series of mitigating measures” would be put in place.
Exercise machines should be spaced apart and one-way systems introduced at venues, while at swimming pools, there should be 3sqm per bather.
Saunas and steam rooms “should stay out of use for the time being”, the guidance adds.
Dowden said there must be regular deep cleaning at facilities and that new guidance will also soon be published to enable competitive grassroots team sports to resume, beginning with cricket this weekend.
The minister told the Downing Street press conference: “Our fight began with a collective effort and I really hope it will end with one. At the beginning we all stayed at home to protect the NHS and save lives, now the British public has a new part to play. It’s time to eat out to help out, to enjoy the arts to help out and to work out to help out.
“It’s over to all of you to help the country recover safely.”
The news will be warmly welcomed by fitness chains, who have complained prime minister Boris Johnson’s “war on obesity” would be impossible if pubs and restaurants could reopen but gyms could not.
Retail and hospitality venues were able to open their doors to customers on Saturday, after the PM switched the two-metre social distancing rule to “one-metre plus”.
It meant that people could get up to a metre away from one another, provided a mitigation, such as a face...
