Gyms could reopen in a 'couple of weeks', says Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson has suggested that gyms could reopen in a “couple of weeks” as Government sources on Friday suggested they were on-track to reopen by mid-July.
The Daily Telegraph understands that ministers are in the final stages of drawing up new covid-secure guidance for gyms, leisure centres and swimming pools.
However, discussions on how gyms can ensure they are well ventilated in order to further minimise the risk of indoor transmission of the coronavirus are believed to be ongoing.
A sport working group, comprising figures from David Lloyd and Pure Gym, have been feeding in proposals to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on how they can reopen safely under social distancing rules.
Industry body UK Active, which is also part of the working group, has also hosted a number of visits for Public Health England and Government officials to gyms in recent days.
While Downing Street said it was unable to confirm a “specific day” for reopening, this newspaper has been told that it is likely to come ahead of the Prime Minister launching a new obesity strategy in the coming weeks.
A senior Government source said ministers were “doing everything we can” to meet an “aspiration” put forward by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden last month for gyms to reopen in two weeks’ time.
“We obviously have to do so in a way that is safe, but we are working with the industry to address the safety concerns and are making good progress,” they added.
Speaking to LBC Radio on Friday morning, Mr Johnson said: “The best way forward for the country is to get the economy moving again.
“We are going to reopen gyms as soon as we can do it in a Covid-secure way and I think that the date for reopening gyms at the moment, if we can do it, is in just a couple of weeks’ time. We want to make progress."
Asked why they still remained closed while pubs and restaurants are reopened, Mr Johnson added: "People, I think, listening to this debate, do know the answer to that, and that is that we need to stop the spread of the disease."
Outdoor gyms are due to reopen today as part of the latest round of lockdown easements, but indoor facilities remain closed due to the increased risk of Covid-19 transmission inside.
While draft guidance is yet to be circulated, proposals are expected to include reducing and spacing out workout machines which require users to breathe heavily, such as treadmills and cross trainers.
Capacity in gyms is also likely to be significantly reduced to ensure compliance with the one-metre plus rule, and could require users to book time slots to avoid overcrowding at peak times.
In preparation for reopening, a number of the country’s largest gym groups have already drawn up their own guidance.
Fitness First, which operates 120 gyms nationwide, has said it will install cleaning stations across its venues and will encourage members to wipe down machines after use.
Meanwhile, Pure Gym has said it will place limits on the number of people permitted entry at any one time, with members encouraged to check its mobile app to see how busy their local gym is.
A series of test sites have been developed to show how gyms can be reopened with spacing between fitness equipment, additional hygiene measures and reduced numbers in gyms, fitness studios and swimming pools.
