Very low association found between gyms and COVID-19 during 2020
By Tom Walker 17 Feb 2021
People using gyms reported exceptionally low levels of COVID-19 Credit: 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."
Hotels incorporating wellness amenities experienced a significant boost in Total Revenue per Available Room (TRevPAR) in 2023, according to the latest Wellness Real Estate Report by RLA Global, produced in partnership with P&L benchmarking firm ...More
The 2024 G7 Summit is now underway at a destination spa resort in Puglia, Italy, with leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US convening to address some of the world’s ...More
Minor Hotels CEO Dillip Rajakarier has unveiled plans to introduce an innovative medi-wellness concept to the group's Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas brand, with ambitions to expand the concept to additional resorts in the future. ...More
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 13th anniversary on Saturday, 8 June and was reportedly celebrated by a record-breaking 1 billion people worldwide, making it the most successful year yet. Founded in 2012 by Belgin ...More
Wellness industry figure Deepak Chopra is co-developing a new wellness community and resort focused on wellbeing and longevity in Utah’s Heber Valley, centred around natural geothermal springs. Named Ameyalli – an Aztec term meaning "a ...More
European health spa operator Ensana has announced the strategic appointment of Dr László Puczkó as senior health spa advisor. Established in 2019, Ensana manages 28 hotels across the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania and ...More
The Great Spa Towns of Europe (GSTE) has announced the successful approval of its funding application under the European Town Twinning Programme. This funding will support a year-long project named INTERSPACE, aimed at fostering intercultural ...More
According to new research from Ernst & Young, the gap between female and male engagement in sport and physical activity is narrowing, with Gen Z adult female engagement figures on the rise. The EY Sports ...More
North Wales’ four-star The Quay Hotel & Spa in the Deganwy Marina in Conwy has invested £1 million (€1.2 million, US$1.3 million) refreshing its 580sq m destination spa with new wellness facilities. Inspired by its ...More
Marriott is set to bolster its exclusive Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio with a brand new property in South America in Costa do Sol, Rio de Janeiro. The eco-luxury resort will open as part of the ambitious ...More
Developer Rockwell Island Development Group (RIDGE) has appointed five-star, global hospitality brand Banyan Tree to manage its new luxury island retreat in Bimini in the Bahamas. Immersed in nature and surrounded by pristine beaches, Banyan ...More
Reservations are now open for Mandarin Oriental’s second London hotel, Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, set to open on 3 June. The luxury establishment will feature 50 guestrooms, 77 private residences and a luxury underground spa retreat. ...More
Spa Life International® Conventions are intimate, business-focussed events, created
exclusively for senior spa and wellness professionals looking for a more targeted, cost-
effective way of doing business.
... more
Very low association found between gyms and COVID-19 during 2020
POSTED 17 Feb 2021 . BY Tom Walker
People using gyms reported exceptionally low levels of COVID-19 Credit: 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."
Barbara den Bak, Tom Moos, and Clare Stobart have been announced as speakers for ukactive's
Sweat 2021 conference, joining boutique and independent operators to discuss the bounceback
of the sector from COVID-19.
ukactive has published six 'policy calls', which it says are crucial in order to help the physical activity
sector survive and recover from the financial pressures caused by the pandemic.
A Parliamentary Petition calling for gyms to reopen first after the current national
lockdown in the UK has passed the 100k signature milestone, which means the motion will
be considered for a debate in Parliament.
Hotels incorporating wellness amenities experienced a significant boost in Total Revenue per
Available Room (TRevPAR) in 2023, according to the latest Wellness Real Estate Report
by RLA Global, produced in partnership with P&L benchmarking firm HotStats.
The 2024 G7 Summit is now underway at a destination spa resort in Puglia, Italy, with leaders
from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US convening to address some of
the world’s most urgent issues.
Minor Hotels CEO Dillip Rajakarier has unveiled plans to introduce an innovative medi-wellness concept to
the group's Anantara Hotels, Resorts and Spas brand, with ambitions to expand the concept to additional
resorts in the future.
Global Wellness Day (GWD) marked its 13th anniversary on Saturday, 8 June and was reportedly celebrated
by a record-breaking 1 billion people worldwide, making it the most successful year yet.
Wellness industry figure Deepak Chopra is co-developing a new wellness community and resort
focused on wellbeing and longevity in Utah’s Heber Valley, centred around natural geothermal
springs.