Government announces that gyms and pools can reopen

The government has outlined the measures that will allow outdoor pools to reopen from 11 July and indoor gyms, swimming pools and sports facilities to reopen from 25 July.

The new guidance has been compiled with input from the trade body ukactive, the Sport and Recreation Alliance, Sport England and other sports bodies, and in consultation with Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive. It will help ensure that millions of people can get back into more sport and fitness activities this month.

It also supports the re-opening of sports halls which are vital to the return of play for many sports.

Leisure centres and indoor gyms, along with swimming pools and other indoor sports facilities, have been closed since Saturday 21 March as part of measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Safety measures set out in the guidance include: limiting the number of people using the facility at any one time; reducing class sizes and allowing sufficient time between each class to avoid groups waiting outside during changeover; ensuring an appropriate number of people are in a swimming pool at any one time; spacing out equipment or taking some out of service to maintain social distancing; enhanced cleaning and providing hand sanitiser throughout venues; and onsidering how the way people walk through their venue could be adjusted to reduce contact, with queue management or one-way systems.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “The reopening of gyms is the news millions across the country have been waiting for with many people desperate to jump on a spinning bike or dive into a pool. Our comprehensive guidance will ensure gyms, pools and leisure centres have the support they need to reopen safely for their customers and staff. Helping people return to gyms safely will also help the nation get match-fit to defeat this virus.”

Gerald Vernon Jackson, chair of the Local Government Association’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board, said: “It is great news that gyms and leisure centres can reopen, and many people will be hugely excited about being able to safely visit them again. Being active is crucial to the fight against obesity, inactivity and poor mental health, and we know that the lockdown has increased physical inactivity and unhealthy eating habits for some families.

“Many leisure providers are in serious financial jeopardy as a result of months of lockdown and the expensive cost of maintaining closed facilities, particularly those with swimming pools. Although able to access the Job Retention Scheme they have had very little other financial support and a funding package is needed to stabilise them.

“Having had to furlough staff and faced with uncertainty about when they might be able to reopen, providers have been unable to prepare. This means it may take a bit of time to reopen some facilities in line with government guidance and to ensure the right measures are in place to maintain social distancing and safe use. They will no doubt move as fast as they can to reopen. Residents should keep an eye on council websites and social media channels to find out when their local leisure facilities are open.”