Swimming / gyms

[Orangeblossom1977]

Any thoughts as to when these might re-open. Missing swimming so much.

Me too. And no.

Did you think I asked if they should open, instead of when they will?

I can’t see them opening before April, my son desperately misses swimming

I miss swimming so so much, so do my DC. I'm hoping by summer.

I was surprised our council pool could afford to open under the previous restrictions.

I teach yoga and fitness classes so am waiting to go back to work. You may recall last summer that outdoor classes were allowed to resume before indoor gym, group exercise & pool re-opened - it might be the same this time although not all gyms offer anything outdoors.

It may also depend on where in the UK you are - interestingly, the Welsh government have suggested gyms will actually be a priority ahead of some of the other areas currently closed - schools obviously the number 1 priority.

I'd be surprised if I am teaching inside by the end of April and pools are likely to re-open at same time if indoors.

Pools are considered safer than gyms! The chlorine effectively sanitises and disinfects the water and pool surrounds (hand rails etc) and if other surfaces and changing rooms are cleaned regularly they are safe to use.

The pool at our health club was reopened before the gym last time.

@Orangeblossom1977

Did you think I asked if they should open, instead of when they will?

Surely "no" is a completely valid response to "any thoughts."

I don't have any thoughts about when pools will reopen. I really hope it's soon though.

Pools might be safer because of the chlorine but changing rooms, despite being cleaned are still a potential route of transmission even if numbers in the pool are restricted - I know of someone who almost certainly caught it in the changing room, probably through airbourne transmission but lots of changing rooms are not big enough for more than perhaps 5 or 8 people if you properly distance.

I’m missing swimming too. I’m hoping the pools will be one of the first things to open after schools but I can’t see the indoors ones being before Easter but I think outdoor ones should be open now.

I seem to recall they were allowed to reopen end June last time but my local didn't reopen until mid August.

So this time I'm predicting no earlier than May, and mid June for many.

Pools might be safer because of the chlorine but changing rooms, despite being cleaned are still a potential route of transmission even if numbers in the pool are restricted

I'll go in and out the fire doors in my swimming costume, no changing rooms required if it means pools can open sooner!

25th July last time they re-opened or that was the earliest date pools & gyms were allowed to re-open (3 weeks after pubs & hairdressers)

Doubt government in England will differentiate between indoor pools & gyms this time as they did not last time.

Swim England are campaigning but I don't think it'll be before April.

My ds misses it massively as us usually swims 7 times a week.

Oh gosh I hope it's soon! I have a swimming club son and he's driving me crazy not having access to the pool! He hates the zoom sessions and jumping about in the lounge. He needs that pool asap!!!! Pleeeeeeaaase!!!!!

I recall that gyms reopened last August, so by that timetable it’ll be many months yet

Perhaps April in areas where Covid cases are low? They were open in tier 3 before .

My son's girlfriend works in one and she's struggling with furlough , both financially and being stuck at home by herself all day so I'm hoping they open sooner rather than later .

I'm not sure that comparing with timescales for last year is really relevant . The first wave last Spring was in March whereas numbers are already residing now, plus there are measures already in place such as reduced capacity , extra cleaning . Plus we have vaccinations programme underway . I would definitely think earlier than those saying July.

I miss it too. I am losing my sanity not being able to swim. I think April too and it feels too long. If it’s longer than April I will have to break in😭

Gyms, indoor classes and indoor pools were allowed to re-open from 25th July last year, although in practice, some decided to re-open later but I went back to teaching on 25th including aqua classes.

Hopefully not too long.
My DDs really want to go back to swimming lessons. They started British style lessons last January, a bit behind (stage 4&5 at 6&8 years old). But because of all the lockdowns they are still at the same stage... At 8& nearly 10. Getting them private lessons as soon as I can after pools reopen.

July was in reference to when they re-opened LAST year not when I thought they would re-open this time around.

Still reduced numbers though in all leisure settings.

Not clear if tiers will return - government said they might not and might do the national approach they adopted last summer.

@Orangeblossom1977

Did you think I asked if they should open, instead of when they will?

No, I thought you asked if I had any idea of when they might open. My answer is no. No one knows, we don't have any sort of roadmap out of this thing as yet, wondering about this stuff is sort of pointless.

Having said that, I desperately miss swimming.