Temp checks at health club
Members of a Perth gym will have their temperature taken when they arrive once the facility reopens on Monday.
That is one of the measures being introduced at the Bannatyne Health Club at St Catherine’s Retail Park, which is ready to welcome back members on August 31 following the relaxing of lockdown restrictions.
The company says it has undertaken an extensive assessment of the COVID-19 infection risk to members and staff and has made changes to its working practices to reduce the risk as far as practicable and deliver first class, professional services.
Unlike many gyms, the club will not be operating a booking system for gym or pools, only for classes, as bosses believe the health club has sufficient space and The Bannatyne Group has calculated the maximum number of members it can accommodate safely.
The team will be monitoring attendance and has a booking system on standby, ready to use if needed.
As well as taking members’ temperature on arrival, other safety measures will include compulsory wearing of face masks in the clubs except when exercising, hand sanitising stations, enhanced cleaning procedures, cashless transactions and reduced class sizes.
Equipment and CV machines will be spaced to achieve social distancing while water fountains will be out of use.
Some lockers will be out of action, together with some showers.
Hot tubs, steam rooms and saunas will not operate.
Owner Duncan Bannatyne, who has been a vocal critic of the Scottish Government’s policy on the reopening of gyms, said: “Most of our members in Perth have been loyal throughout the pandemic and I am delighted to be welcoming them back.
“I’d also like to personally thank the staff who have remained positive through the very difficult last few months.
“I know they will be as pleased as I am to open the doors again.”