We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented
to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include
adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can
unsubscribe at any time. Hot anime traps
People were unable to go to the gym during the first and second
national Covid lockdowns. Since exiting the second lockdown,
England has been operating under a tier system for different
regions. Gyms have been permitted to open in all three tiers but
many are wondering what will happen in Tier 4.
One person wrote on Twitter: "Moving to tier 4 feels
damaging.
"Closing shops before Xmas, no gyms, very little escape for
people living alone. What happened to cafes being crucial?
"Schools are clearly the biggest spreader, I understand why
they're still open but this feels like dancing around the
issue."
Another wrote: "I don’t care about tier 4, just need gyms to
stay open."
A third added: "Closing gyms is potentially the worst thing the
govt could do in tier 4.
"There is no evidence that links gyms to rising cases at
all."
A fourth commented: "@BorisJohnson if you move London to tier 4
& then close the gyms, a staple factor in maintaining mental health
for millions of people across the country and which also in
September had a Covid infection rate of approx 1 case per 300,000
visits, then you really do not give a toss."
Prime Minister Boris Johnson made an announcement on Saturday
afternoon regarding the current Covid restrictions and the tier
system.
Gyms in Tier 4: Prime Minister Boris
Johnson (Image: GETTY)
Due to a new, highly transmissible variant of the
coronavirus, London and the south east of England has been
placed under Tier 4.
The restrictions are similar to those of the previous national
lockdowns, with Johnson saying "all non-essential retail, indoor
gyms and leisure facilities and personal care services must
close".
Unfortunately, this means gyms will have to shut in a
fourth-tier area.
The restrictions come into effect from Sunday, with a review of
the tier system due to take place on December
30.
While gyms in Tier 3 areas can remain open, group exercise
classes are still banned.
UK Active has called for this to be changed, saying the
restrictions are "baffling and unfair".
"We continue to work alongside our sector partners to understand
the rationale for the ban on indoor group activities and exercise
classes in Tier 3, and to see it reviewed and changed," said Huw
Edwards, CEO of UK Active.
"Indoor group exercise classes do not compromise any element of
the government's safety guidelines, by operating at reduced
capacity, with adapted booking and queuing systems to maintain
social distancing, and using stringent ventilation and sanitisation
processes.
"January is a vital time for our sector, and we urge the
government to provide tailored financial and regulatory support for
its recovery, including a combination of business rate relief, VAT
exemptions, and incentives that not only help to rebuild, but also
encourage more people back into physical activity."
The Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said: "The
rationale is clear on this - this is all about the higher
transmission risk of coronavirus when people are within close
proximity in indoor settings, with restrictions depending on the
alert level that applies to your local area.
"That's why in Tier 1, group activities such as training
sessions and exercise classes can take place in larger numbers,
provided that people are in separate groups (up to six people)
which do not mix.
"In Tier 2 areas, people can take part in group activity like
exercise classes as long as there is no mixing between households.
People can play certain sports which do not involve close proximity
or physical contact against one person from another household, such
as a singles tennis match or badminton match.
"In Tier 3 areas, indoor sport will be restricted to within your
household only, and there should be no group activity such as
exercise classes."
