Very low association found between gyms and COVID-19 during 2020
17 Feb 2021 . BY Tom Walker
People using gyms reported exceptionally low levels of COVID-19 / Shutterstock/Jacob Lund
Data published today (17 February) shows that for every 100,000 visits to UK gyms and leisure centres during 2020, only 1.7 people went on to test positive for COVID-19.
In addition to this being an exceptionally low figure, there is no evidence that transmission took place in gyms.
Released by industry body, ukactive, the data is based on more than 75 million facility visits across the UK, from the initial reopening of gyms in July 2020 to the end of December 2020, before the third national lockdown began in England at the start of January 2021.
The results show that while the case rate for the UK’s general population rose consistently over the time period, the prevalence of the virus in people using gyms and leisure centres remained extremely low.
According to Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, the data confirms that gyms and leisure centres are safe environments.
“Our sector continues to set the benchmark for responsible safety measures and monitoring of COVID-19," Edwards said.
“Our nation’s gyms, pools and leisure facilities have never been more needed, as our communities try to recover mentally and physically from this terrible pandemic and the effects of lockdown.
“It is vital that our facilities are able to reopen as a priority in any phased approach, as they are desperately needed to support the physical and mental health of millions of people that rely on them to be active.
“The fitness and leisure sector remains confident in the Government-approved safety measures put in place, which will allow visitors to return with confidence, and we continue to work with each nation to support decisions for their reopening roadmaps using the very latest data and evidence from our sector.”
Liz Terry, editor of HCM, said: "Gym users report an exceptionally low prevalence of COVID-19 and it's vital to stress that even where gym users have contracted the virus, there is no evidence whatsoever that transmission occurred in the gym.
"Our gyms and leisure centres are COVID-secure, supervised and regulated environments adhering to strict government safety guidelines. The services they provide enable people to keep themselves healthy and fit, to enable them to fight COVID-19. We urge the government to allow our gyms and leisure centres to reopen as soon as we come out of lockdown, so they can continue their valuable work.
"In addition to being critical for mental and physical health, exercise guards against COVID-19 by encouraging the secretion of the protein EcSOD, which coats the organs and protects against the virus.
"We want the government to launch a new initiative to give the nation a health boost as we come out of this long winter of lockdown – to fund a Work Out to Help Out scheme, to open gyms as soon as possible and to encourage people to recommit to their health.
"Economically, the vitality of our workforce has been massively diminished over the last year. People have not only been de-skilled by furlough, they have in many cases put on weight, lost fitness and energy and become sedentary and experienced a decline in their mental health.
"With Brexit putting additional pressure on the economy, we need to have a fighting-fit workforce to ensure the success of UK plc and a government-backed initiative to get the nation back to fighting fitness is urgently needed."
"We summarise what we do in two words – functional art," says Gian Luca Innocenzi, CEO and
founder of MyEquilibria, which specialises in high-end outdoor exercise equipment.
Cryotherapy supplier Art of Cryo has created a new 12-person walkthrough cryotherapy chamber
at Cryo Center Coolzone Madeira, claimed to be the largest cold therapy treatment experience
in the world.
Egym has introduced Open Mode on its Smart Strength machines, enabling them to be used as a
replacement for traditional weights on the fitness floor, rather than solely as circuit-based
machines.
Myzone has announced the launch of MZ-Open, an access function that enables Myzone gym users
to experience all the benefits of Myzone’s world-renowned heart rate training biome through
their pre-owned Apple or Android smartwatch.
PerformX Live, the premier business of fitness event, has announced Dr Jonathan Leary,
founder
and CEO of Remedy Place, as the headliner for its 2024 event.
Elevate, the premier event in the physical activity, fitness, sports therapy and performance
sector, is thrilled to announce that registrations for its 2024 conference are now live –
and the response has been nothing short of exceptional.
Cardiff-based gym design and installation company, Absolute Performance, has been awarded
the contract to design, supply and install three gyms for Team GB for the 2024 games in
Paris.
As Third Space unveiled its latest club in Wimbledon at the end of 2023 as part of its growth
development into suburban, residential locations, it also revealed a new state of the art
Reformer Pilates studio at the new site in response to members seeking a low-impact, full-
body workout for all abilities.
Developed for the world of medicine, tailored to the needs of modern fitness studios. The
seca TRU seamlessly provides medical expertise for health-focused training with a clinically
validated body composition analysis meeting the health and fitness industry's evolving
demands.
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Very low association found between gyms and COVID-19 during 2020
17 Feb 2021 . BY Tom Walker
People using gyms reported exceptionally low levels of COVID-19 / Shutterstock/Jacob Lund
Data published today (17 February) shows that for every 100,000 visits to UK gyms and leisure centres during 2020, only 1.7 people went on to test positive for COVID-19.
In addition to this being an exceptionally low figure, there is no evidence that transmission took place in gyms.
Released by industry body, ukactive, the data is based on more than 75 million facility visits across the UK, from the initial reopening of gyms in July 2020 to the end of December 2020, before the third national lockdown began in England at the start of January 2021.
The results show that while the case rate for the UK’s general population rose consistently over the time period, the prevalence of the virus in people using gyms and leisure centres remained extremely low.
According to Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, the data confirms that gyms and leisure centres are safe environments.
“Our sector continues to set the benchmark for responsible safety measures and monitoring of COVID-19," Edwards said.
“Our nation’s gyms, pools and leisure facilities have never been more needed, as our communities try to recover mentally and physically from this terrible pandemic and the effects of lockdown.
“It is vital that our facilities are able to reopen as a priority in any phased approach, as they are desperately needed to support the physical and mental health of millions of people that rely on them to be active.
“The fitness and leisure sector remains confident in the Government-approved safety measures put in place, which will allow visitors to return with confidence, and we continue to work with each nation to support decisions for their reopening roadmaps using the very latest data and evidence from our sector.”
Liz Terry, editor of HCM, said: "Gym users report an exceptionally low prevalence of COVID-19 and it's vital to stress that even where gym users have contracted the virus, there is no evidence whatsoever that transmission occurred in the gym.
"Our gyms and leisure centres are COVID-secure, supervised and regulated environments adhering to strict government safety guidelines. The services they provide enable people to keep themselves healthy and fit, to enable them to fight COVID-19. We urge the government to allow our gyms and leisure centres to reopen as soon as we come out of lockdown, so they can continue their valuable work.
"In addition to being critical for mental and physical health, exercise guards against COVID-19 by encouraging the secretion of the protein EcSOD, which coats the organs and protects against the virus.
"We want the government to launch a new initiative to give the nation a health boost as we come out of this long winter of lockdown – to fund a Work Out to Help Out scheme, to open gyms as soon as possible and to encourage people to recommit to their health.
"Economically, the vitality of our workforce has been massively diminished over the last year. People have not only been de-skilled by furlough, they have in many cases put on weight, lost fitness and energy and become sedentary and experienced a decline in their mental health.
"With Brexit putting additional pressure on the economy, we need to have a fighting-fit workforce to ensure the success of UK plc and a government-backed initiative to get the nation back to fighting fitness is urgently needed."
"We summarise what we do in two words – functional art," says Gian Luca Innocenzi, CEO and
founder of MyEquilibria, which specialises in high-end outdoor exercise equipment.
Egym has introduced Open Mode on its Smart Strength machines, enabling them to be used as a
replacement for traditional weights on the fitness floor, rather than solely as circuit-based
machines.
Myzone has announced the launch of MZ-Open, an access function that enables Myzone gym users
to experience all the benefits of Myzone’s world-renowned heart rate training biome through
their pre-owned Apple or Android smartwatch.
Cardiff-based gym design and installation company, Absolute Performance, has been awarded
the contract to design, supply and install three gyms for Team GB for the 2024 games in
Paris.
As Third Space unveiled its latest club in Wimbledon at the end of 2023 as part of its growth
development into suburban, residential locations, it also revealed a new state of the art
Reformer Pilates studio at the new site in response to members seeking a low-impact, full-
body workout for all abilities.
