Why are gyms still open?

[hambledon]

Last week I booked two classes at the gym for tomorrow. I really enjoy the classes and want to go. OTOH it doesn't seem wise. Is anyone else still going to the gym? Why are they still open and running classes?

I should add that I’m paying my membership still, and would happily pay a reduced membership if they were forced to close- they are an independent gym and I want them to be there for us when this is all over. But their current approach is irresponsible.

The gyms that I use are still open and whilst they are I will continue to use them

I don't use a gym but I assume they are like most other businesses such as restaurants and cafes which will remain open until they are forced to shut. Some simply can't afford to just close their doors. I do think consumers are stuck in the middle a bit, we have the advise not to really go out but then we also have these businesses begging us to turn up and support them.

As an aside how can you possibly know how many cases are on your area? Hardly any testing is being done. Only hospital cases

exactly youd think the government would want clear figures on exactly how many people are infected versus how many people have died of the infection
why would they not want that information to be available to everyone so that we can all see exactly what's going on?

Mine is still open. I went this morning but I’m betting by next week it’ll be closed. I also went to the library and that said it was closing as of Friday; however they are offering an amnesty on overdue books which is good.

So many are milling about I think it’s more to do with letting a proportion of people get it before suppression.

I will be shot down for saying this but with sensible precautions I believe gyms should stay open as long as they can.

Coronavirus is and will kill people in the UK, however, let us not underestimate the amount of suicides and general mental health issues may come out of all this isolation and home working.

The gym may give some people that welcome mental boost that gets them through the rest of the isolation and loneliness. Yes people can exercise outside of a gym environment but people can do that anyday and millions still choose to go to the gym so that in itself is not the answer.

I cannot go to a gym yet can happily be crammed like a sardine in a busy Tesco buying products, in far closer proximity to a greater volume of people.

Phew! All transmission risks eliminated because Maureen on the reception desk is wearing plastic gloves.

And what if Maureen sneezes and coughs into her gloves...?!

Agree - Gyms need to close! We are trying to prevent as much contact with others!

Yes people can exercise outside of a gym environment but people can do that anyday and millions still choose to go to the gym so that in itself is not the answer.

But this is not 'anyday'. We're facing a deadly pandemic!!!

So the deadly pandemic does not touch supermarkets? If people stay over 2m apart (and most gyms are closing alternate machines to drive this behaviour)...why is this such an issue?

Sportbilly the government differentiates between essential and non essential because people need food.

Gym goers are going against instruction.

Behind every gym that is open are minimum wage cleaners, receptionists and self-employed instructors/trainers still able to take home a wage packet.

The supermarkets are 100 times busier with virtually no social distancing in the queues. Gym users are cleaning equipment between uses - who's cleaning the shopping trolley handles?

the shopping trolley handles
.... and everything else that gets touched repeatedly by every person in the store who's just sneezed into their hands or wiped their nose

@turkeyontheplate
What about the people who do weights and rowing? Training at home can not even come close. The answer to the orginal question is: because they have not been told to close. I am sure they will do so once told.

PureGym just sent an email this morning saying they're still open and have upgraded everyone to national access so they can visit their local one

@MarshaBradyo gym goers are going against advice, not instruction.

Why should gym goers be penalized?
people who make the effort to build up their health are doing a good thing for the country

The ones near me are closed as of today

Paris you can bold all you like this is detrimental to many people.

Interestingly Chris Whitty used the word instruction deliberately and since he has the expertise I’d go with him.

I have no idea why Johnson is doing it but it will hit hard in three weeks due to his use of the word advice. It might affect you or someone else but the numbers of deaths will go up.

Whilst I wouldn’t use that particular term, the fact that your friends have worked hard and (presumably) remortgaged the house to launch their gym doesn’t alter the fact that keeping it open is irresponsible and will put members and people they come into contact with at increased risk.

Iamthewombat. If you bother to read my post properly you will see that I’m not defending them staying open. I’m objecting to them being called greedy selfish cunts.

Mine is still open.
They’re part of a big chain, and I just had an email from them to say they’ll remain open for the foreseeable.
Last time I was there, all of the instructors had been told by management to wipe down every single piece of equipment and 40 mats with disinfectant every 2 hours.
No sooner than they finished, they were able to maybe 20 min admin or take some classes before starting all over again.
Even 10 days ago, they were all livid that they were expected to open as normal.

This gym is zone 2 London, with approx 22 known cases in the area..

David lloyd now allowing people to suspend membership with immediate effect.

Why should gym goers be penalized?
people who make the effort to build up their health are doing a good thing for the country

Nobody is penalised. Everyone is making sacrifices!

And by building up their health while at the same time transmitting the virus in a sweaty gym is doing the opposite of a good thing for the country

Our gym and pool are still open. People still stand close to each other in supermarket queues and chemist queues.