Gyms told to stay shut until autumn at the earliest due to high risk of spreading coronavirus
GYMS have been told they must stay shut until autumn at the earliest after Government officials deemed them one of the worst places for spreading coronavirus.
Government scientists are understood to have grouped them with bars and restaurants, which will be among the last venues to reopen. More pessimistic forecasts within government have even predicted that gyms won’t reopen this year.
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An industry source in talks with the Government said: “Six months is a reasonable timeframe.”
Whitehall officials who have been working with industry bodies on plans to reopen workplaces have concluded that like bars and restaurants, gyms are a “hotbed of infection”.
A source who has been involved in extensive talks with government officials over the ‘Back to Work’ plans said: “Gyms won’t be open any time soon.
“It won’t be sooner than autumn.”
Another of those involved in the planning said: “One way systems don’t work in gyms as people don’t use the equipment in order like aisles in Tesco.
“They are in close proximity in the wet environment of changing rooms, while exercise means lots of sweat and huffing and puffing in close quarters.”
But some gyms have urged the Government to allow them to open for personal trainers and their clients.
They have argued this could work because gyms could operate in a much more controlled environment where personal trainers could keep two metres away from their clients but also clean equipment after every use.
The Treasury is understood to be working on plans to extend its wage support scheme for the specific sectors that are told to stay shut.
That could see gym employees kept on some form of the taxpayer-funded job retention scheme, which currently pays 80 per cent of wages for workers who have been furloughed by their employer.
The current scheme is currently due to end in June but Chancellor Rishi Sunak has assured employers that they will not face a “cliff-edge”.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said it was too early to speculate when gyms could reopen.
Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: “The timeline for reopening gyms and leisure centres has not yet been confirmed and ukactive continues to work with the Government on this important issue.
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“Our sector is taking every step necessary to ensure it is able to reopen safely and as soon as the Government allows, in order to provide vital services for the health of our nation.
“It is important the Government understands the unique role these facilities play in our society, with public leisure alone contributing £3.3bn towards our population’s health and wellbeing, and gyms and leisure centres employing around 189,000 people.”
A Government spokesperson said: “The Business Secretary continues to work with businesses, union leaders and the science and medical community so we can ensure workplaces are safe for those who will go back to work once the measures are relaxed and give people the confidence to return to work.”
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