Total Fitness reveals plans to turn gyms into 'covid-19 safe space' after pandemic

The club said it had developed a policy to safeguard customers, which goes significantly further than the newly created industrywide guidance by ukactive, the health and fitness trade association.

As part of its Covid-19 reopening plan, it will change the interior layout of its 17 health clubs, ensuring all machines and equipment are at least two metres apart to adhere to government guidelines.

A spokesman said: “They are currently testing and refining the layouts of two prototype clubs to create a blueprint for all of the Total Fitness clubs.

“Meticulous hygiene is key to the club’s plan, and each gym will be subject to a rigorous cleaning schedule, to ensure that all equipment and touch points are cleaned after use.

The spokesman added: “Total Fitness also plans to overstaff its open-spaced areas to monitor social distancing and allow all members to exercise safely.

“Increased staff numbers will provide members with additional support and also ensure cleaning procedures are carried out regularly.”

It will also revise its class timetable, to ensure there is a longer than required turnaround time between each class, which allows for cleaning to be carried out.

Sophie Lawler, CEO of Total Fitness said:, “The activity sector has long served in the fight against preventable disease and at no time in my recollection has this been more important than now.

"It’s been exceptionally encouraging to hear physical activity talked about so much since the start of the crisis – indeed we’ve talked about it more in the last seven weeks than we have in the last seven years.

“We applaud the people who have continued to exercise and those who have joined the active population more recently – this is simply brilliant.

"We know from our decades of experience as health club operators that exercising alone at home isn’t the full solution for achieving sustainable lifestyle change and that the vast majority of people need additional support."

Group exercise classes will not operate above 50 per cent capacity, to ensure social distancing measures are adhered to.

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