Journalists on The Times are reporting today that they’ve seen a leaked document confirming how the UK government will allow a range of leisure businesses in England, including gyms and spas, pubs and restaurants, to reopen on 4 July with social distancing and hygiene controls in place.

This comes as COVID-19 alert level drops from 4 to 3.

Early editions of the paper, released last night, reported that while pubs and restaurants would open on 4 July, gyms would not reopen 'until later in the year', however, by the morning, this position had changed for gyms and spas had been added to the list.

Operators are waiting for a date from government and also a steer on whether the social distancing guideline will drop from the current 2m to the WHO advisory of 1m.

ukactive has been lobbying with the hospitality and pub sectors in partnership with UK Hospitality and the British Independent Retailers Association, to highlight the dangers of delay in terms of lost jobs and businesses.

Here’s the excerpt from The Times concerning gyms and spas, HCM will keep reporting as the story unfolds:

Receptionists will use clickers to count people into gyms and swimming pools and booking systems will be put in place to prevent overcrowding.

Treadmills and weightlifting machines will be spaced out from one another and managers will enforce social distancing.

If the gym is in a hotel, guests will be asked to get changed in their own rooms rather than in changing rooms. In spas, there will be no more bowls of complimentary sweets between treatments — unless they have been individually wrapped — and hot drinks will only be available if served in disposable cups. Everyone will be required to wear overshoes.

Physiotherapists, masseurs, pedicurists and manicurists will all wear full protective gear.