Beijing's Swimming Pools and Underground Gyms to Remain Closed

Original Joey Knotts theBeijinger

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Home exercise has defined fitness in Beijing in the wake of the coronavirus, and with the release of a notice by Beijing Municipal Bureau of Sports, it seems that things will not be changing any time soon.

The notice makes clear that due to the city’s “level one” response state, underground gyms and swimming facilities must suspend business until further notice.

While the notice justified the continued closing of underground gyms by citing their poor air circulation, it does not explain why swimming facilities in particular have were singled out for closure. It is not yet known for sure whether the recommended amount of pool chlorine is sufficient to neutralize the novel coronavirus, although according to Ireland’s Health Protection Surveillance Centre, it likely is sufficient given what is known about similar coronaviruses (though that report doesn't take into account the sometimes less than sanitary conditions found at some of Beijing's pools).

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The notice also indicates that other gyms that “do not meet the requirements for epidemic prevention and control” are likewise required to suspend business. The specific requirements, released by the local Beijing Sports Authority, are not included in the notice but have been listed elsewhere and reflect restrictions imposed on restaurants and bars, including mandatory mask-wearing and a minimum distance of two meters between equipment. Other restrictions include the following:

Treadmills, elliptical machines, and other "strenuous" workout equipment are banned from use due to the risk of developing cardiovascular disease as a result of using such equipment while wearing a mask.
Showers may not be open to gym visitors.
Catering services are strictly prohibited and visitors may not eat while at the gym.

For now, gyms in Chaoyang District must apply to reopen, which is followed by an audit by the local authorities to ensure that the correct protective measures are in place.

Ultimately, which gyms can stay open will be at the discretion of the authorities, but those who are lucky enough to make the cut will have to stay vigilant, as the notice dictates that inspections will have to be carried out daily. Due to the type of inspection method referenced in the notice, gyms should expect inspections to be unannounced.

Additionally, gyms will have to suspend certain types of activities, including group fitness classes. Some types of sports may be allowed, but sports that involve physical contact such as soccer, basketball, or martial arts are discouraged.

Taking into account all of the various restrictions, it appears that there is only one viable option left: weight lifting. While that's sure to satisfy many gym-goers, for the rest, it might be time to switch to an online-based fitness regiment.