Are gyms open in Tier 4 lockdown?
GYM-goers will be wondering if they can still work out under Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions.
It comes as three quarters of England were plunged into the strictest coronavirus lockdown tier on New Year's Eve.
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It's hoped the rules - which includes a ban on households mixing - will help to slow the spread of a mutant coronavirus that's believed to be 50% more infectious.
London and parts of the South East of England were already in Tier 4, with the strain believed to be behind a sudden surge in hospitalisations.
But the mutant Covid strain has recently also been detected across the UK, affecting areas currently in Tier 2 or 3.
As part of Tier 4 restrictions, non-essential retail shops, hairdressers and beauty salons must shut in a bid to stop the spread. Pubs and restaurants must close too.
But what does it mean for people wanting to go to the gym?
Full list of areas in Tier 4
HERE is the full list of areas in Tier 4.
East Midlands
- Derby and Derbyshire
- Leicester City and Leicestershire
- Lincolnshire
- Northamptonshire
- Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
East of England
- Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes
- Cambridgeshire
- Essex, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock
- Hertfordshire
- Norfolk
- Peterborough
- Suffolk
London
All 32 London boroughs plus City of London
North East
- North East (this area includes the local authorities of County Durham, Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland)
- North of Tyne (this area includes the local authorities of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland)
- Tees Valley (this area includes the local authorities of Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton-on-Tees)
North West
- Cumbria
- Greater Manchester
- Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen, and Blackpool
- Warrington and Cheshire Region
South East
- Berkshire
- Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and West Sussex
- Buckinghamshire
- Hampshire, Southampton and Portsmouth
- Isle of Wight
- Kent and Medway
- Oxfordshire
- Surrey
South West
- Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole
- Gloucestershire (Cheltenham, Cotswold, Forest of Dean, Gloucester City, Stroud and Tewkesbury)
- Somerset (Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton, and South Somerset)
- Swindon
West Midlands
- Birmingham, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton
- Coventry
- Solihull
- Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent
- Warwickshire
Are gyms open in Tier 4?
Sadly, indoor gyms have been told to shut in all places that are in Tier 4 coronavirus lockdown restrictions.
The same goes for indoor swimming pools, indoor tennis and basketball courts, indoor fitness and dance studios and indoor climbing walls.
But outdoor gyms, outdoor pools and outdoor sports courts can remain open.
Are gyms open in Tier 3?
Gyms, pools, and leisure facilities are able to remain open under Tier 3 restrictions, although exercise classes are banned.
It means you can still go the gym to work out on your own in Tier 3 areas.
Tier 3 is applied to "very high" risk areas where coronavirus cases are still rising.
What coronavirus measures are in place for gyms?
As per coronavirus-safe guidance from industry association UK Active, gyms that can stay open have taken measures such as:
- Reduced capacity in gyms, while increasing space between equipment to 2m, as well as adding a one-way system.
- Provided additional gym space, with individual workout areas of 3m x 3m.
- Limited bookings for group exercise classes to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
- Reduced the number of swimmers in pools - where people swim at 5m intervals.
- Fewer members are allowed in certain areas at any one time to ensure everyone can practice social distancing.
- Plastic screens introduced to reception desks to protect members and staff.
- Signage and clear floor markings help members to remain a safe distance apart, with staff available to provide support.
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We've rounded up a full list of shops and businesses that are forced to shut under Tier 4 rules.
It includes non-essential shops and hairdressers, which are now closed.
New Tier 4 rules and exemptions: What you can and can’t do explained.