Gyms to reopen in England on April 12 – these are the new rules to be expected

Gyms will reopen in England on April 12, but people from different households are still not to deliberately mix in.

In addition to gyms, indoor pools and other indoor exercise rooms will reopen in the second stage of the lockdown easing, which begins after Easter.

But ministers are keen on there being no house mix indoors until later this summer, so it will still be against the rules to meet someone who is not in your home for a while. workout indoors. Exercise classes will also be banned when gyms reopen in an attempt to reduce contact between people while they are training.

Social distancing, regular cleaning and other Covid safety measures should also apply.

Further relaxation of the rules will come in the third stage on May 17, when people will again be allowed to mingle indoors. The saunas and hammams will also reopen in the third stage.

Outdoor facilities, meanwhile, opened on March 29, including outdoor pools, tennis courts and basketball courts with Boris Johnson admitting he is ‘thrilled’ to be able to play tennis at new, but still remembering, ‘hands, face, space and air freshness’ when it comes to exercising outside.

Gyms are believed to pose a higher risk than other indoor venues, as people who exercise expel more droplets and aerosols as they breathe more deeply. But many gyms are well ventilated and have Covid safety measures such as regular cleaning.

By June, the government hopes to drop social distancing obligations and other restrictions on reopening the premises, but the relaxation of those measures depends on the outcome of a review by officials.

Ministers hope life will be broadly back to normal by the fourth stage of the June 21 easing of the lockout, but it is possible that some restrictions will continue until the fall. The prime minister said decisions will be guided by “data, not dates”.

Can I go to the gym?

Gyms have been closed since January 5 and will not reopen until April 12.

Do runners have to wear face masks?

Not really. The guidelines say people should “wear a face mask in confined spaces where social distancing is not always possible and where they come into contact with others they do not normally meet.”

In crowded areas, this advice could extend to runners, but officially there is no advice requiring people training in a large space to wear a mask. As long as you practice social distancing, it shouldn’t be necessary to wear a face mask while exercising.

“No reason comes to mind that we should recommend masks for use during exercise. People are expected to be socially left behind during exercise, ”said Dr Ben Killingley, consultant in acute medicine and infectious diseases at University College London Hospital.

However, many professionals agree that wearing a mask is more about preventing the spread of Covid-19 to others, than protecting yourself, especially if you are asymptomatic. In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), 42% of 78 close contacts of patients with Covid-19 at a hospital in Wuhan, China, had no symptoms of the disease.

If you are going to be jogging in a densely populated area, it may be advisable to keep a face mask in your pocket and put it on when passing crowds.

Is wearing a face mask while exercising harmful?

There is no scientific consensus on the benefits or dangers of wearing a face mask during exercise, mainly because little research has been done in this area.

Last May, a man’s left lung collapsed after running for two and a half miles while wearing a face mask in China. Doctors found that his left lung was punctured and shrunk by 90%, a condition they said was caused by the high pressure in the man’s organ due to the fact that he was doing strenuous exercises while exercising. while wearing a mask. Wuhan Hospital chief medical officer Dr Chen Baojun warned that people should avoid wearing face masks while exercising, as face coverings could obstruct the flow of oxygen.

However, these incidents are very rare and it is likely that underlying health issues or other factors such as an ill-fitting mask or excessive exertion are involved.

Some professionals have advised against high intensity exercise, such as running, while wearing a face mask. Talk on This morning last May, Dr Hilary Jones informed viewers that wearing a mask while exercising might not be a good idea.

“If you exercise outside and jog, you don’t really need a mask, as long as you’re not with other people,” he said. declared. “There is no indication to suggest that you wear a mask or it is beneficial. In fact, it covers your mouth and nose, it inhibits your breathing to some extent and some people would say you increase the rate of carbon dioxide that you breathe out when you exercise and that’s probably not a good idea.

However, the research is still in its very early stages. “Studies evaluating the effects (including CO2 levels) of healthcare workers wearing a respirator (fitted masks) have been performed and they show (by several mechanisms) that they can impair work performance,” said Dr. Killingley. “However, I am not aware of any similar studies on other types of face masks and certainly not related to general public use.”

What type of mask should I wear when I exercise?

From floral prints to sturdy respirators, it seems there’s a face mask for every occasion. But with Adidas and Rebel hopping on the trend, is there a specific type we should be using?

“A number of companies produce face masks for running, and these are for style and the use of materials to prevent getting excessively wet – breathing through the mask will produce water,” Professor Andrew said. Lane, professor of sport and learning at the University of Wolverhampton. “The mask should be clean and so having several will help. The material should be porous. Many runners use a buff as a mask.”

To help support our “Return to the World” journey, Rebel introduced a face mask made from a soft, breathable fabric that is washable, making it safe for sweaty exercise. They also offer FFP level 1 protection.