Health clubs, leisure centres and fitness studios in England have opened their doors today (12 April) for the first time during 2021.

Scotland’s health clubs and leisure centres can now begin to prepare for reopening, after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed that indoor fitness facilities can open their doors on 26 April.

Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, says the Welsh government is considering breaking the gym sector down into different categories, based on 'risk', and reopening some gyms and health clubs before others.

Gyms and leisure centres in Scotland are set to open on 26 April, provided that the rate of coronavirus infections keeps falling across the country.

Placing gyms and leisure centres at the front of the queue for reopening would be making a "statement of intent" to building a healthier and better Britain after the pandemic.

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.

The Cabinet Office has chosen leisure operator GLL as the "face" of England's COVID-secure physical activity facilities.

The science shows being fit mitigates against COVID-19. We’ve proven we can operate safely under the SAGE COVID-secure Framework. Time to join it up by securing essential service status

The Scottish government has published its guidance on sport and leisure facilities – ahead of a possible reopening date of 14 September.

Boutique gym operator, Gymbox, faced threats of legal action over its bid to reopen on 4 July, with CEO, Marc Diaper deciding not to proceed as a result.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that gyms may be able to reopen in a ‘couple of weeks’. Johnson made the comments during an interview with radio station LBC on 3 July. "We are going to reopen gyms as soon as we can do it in a COVID-19-secure way and I think that the date for reopening gyms at the moment, if we can do it, is in just a couple of weeks’ time," Johnson said.

A number of gym operators are concerned that local lockdowns could come into effect in some areas of the UK before gyms reopen, further delaying the full restarting of the industry –  especially in major urban areas.

Journalists on The Times are reporting today that they’ve seen a leaked document confirming how the UK government will allow a range of leisure businesses in England, including gyms and spas, to reopen on 4 July with social distancing and hygiene controls in place.

The UK government has given its clearest signal yet it may be about to announce gyms can reopen early in July.

Allowing limited personal training to resume in outdoor settings will offer 'some relief' to those in the physical activity sector, according to CIMSPA chief executive Tara Dillon.

ukactive has questioned the UK government's apparent decision to class gyms and leisure centres among a group of "higher risk" industry sectors, which means that there is no definite or potential date for the reopening of facilities – and could result in a delay in getting the sector back to business.

ukactive has published an operational framework for gyms, leisure centres and the wider fitness industry to reopen safely in the UK – once they are permitted to do so by the government.

Plans have been revealed for a four-stage strategy to reopen the UK's physical activity sector, once the government begins to ease the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.