Will the Minister explain why showering facilities are not available at public swimming baths due to coronavirus restrictions, but can be used in private gyms?
There is no distinction between showering facilities in public and private pools and gyms. Whether to open these facilities will be a matter for sport and leisure facility providers, who are under a duty in law to take all reasonable measures to minimise the risk of exposure to coronavirus and to carry out the appropriate risk assessments.
Our guidance ‘Sport, Recreation and Leisure: guidance for a safe return’ suggests the use of changing rooms and showers should be avoided, where possible, because they are an area of increased risk of transmission. The guidance also suggests that consideration should be given to closing communal showers.
In accordance with the guidance, changing rooms and showers can be open so long as users spend minimal time in them and that measures are in place to ensure they are kept clean, that the number of people using them at any one time is controlled to adhere to the rules on indoor gatherings, physical distancing is achieved as much as possible, and face coverings (as appropriate) for those aged 11 and over are worn.
It may be the case that some public swimming pools have communal showering facilities which are unable to meet these requirements.