Last updated: 14th September 2020. E&OE
Our Tai Chi classes are exempt from this new rule of 6, along with other organised outdoor and indoor physical activity and exercise classes. This is based on explicit and direct communication from the government, as well as confirmed by the various bodies such as sport England and UKActive, as follows:
1. Matt Hancock oral statement to Parliament ( https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/update-on-new-social-distancing-rules):
“There will be some exemptions.
For example, if a single household or support bubble is larger than 6, they can still gather. Places of education and work are unaffected. COVID secure weddings, wedding receptions and funerals can go ahead, up to a limit of 30 people. Organised sport and exercise is exempt.”
Section 2.10. There will be exceptions where groups can be larger than 6 people, including: organised indoor and outdoor sports, physical activity and exercise classes
3. Sport England: https://www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/coronavirus
Group sizes
While social gatherings of more than six people will be banned in England from 14 September, the government’s confirmed that organised sports and activities that have been through return to play protocols can continue, as can organised outdoor sports and physical activity events such as parkrun, which is due to return next month.
People can also continue to use leisure facilities, including gyms and pools – classes within these venues can continue as they are now. People should not go to these venues socially in groups of more than six.
That’s because these sports and activities have stringent plans in place to reduce the risk of Covid-19, and because these venues are classed as Covid-secure given the measures they’ve introduced. The importance of sport and physical activity to people’s physical health and mental wellbeing has also been recognised by the government.
4. UKActive is the main organisation covering fitness in the UK: https://www.ukactive.com/news/operational-update-fitness-and-leisure-facilities-remain-open-following-rule-of-six/
ukactive has today (10 September) issued an update following the Government’s announced ‘Rule of Six’
Following the Government’s announcement that social gatherings of more than six people will be banned in England from 14 September, the Government has confirmed that organised sports, fitness and leisure activities that have been through COVID-secure protocols can continue, as can organised outdoor sports and physical activity events.
People can continue to use leisure facilities, including gyms and pools, and classes within these venues can continue as they are now. The new rule does mean that people should not arrive at these venues socially in groups of more than six.
Gyms, fitness, sports and leisure providers have stringent plans in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19, and these venues are classed as COVID-secure, given the measures they have introduced.