Gyms open as restrictions eased again

LIFE in Wales is slowly edging back to some sort of normality as the Welsh Government relaxes coronavirus restrictions.

Today sees more lifting of restrictions, including the long-awaited reopening of gyms.

Here’s what you can do from today as Wales leaves the alert level four restrictions which have been in place since before Christmas.

■ Go to the gym: Finally! You can get back in and swing those kettle bells and stare in the mirror while you do it.

Leisure centres are back open, too, so get in that pool. The indoor services will be able to resume individual or one-to-one training but not for exercise classes at this stage. Swimming lessons are back too.

■ Support your nearest community centre: In many places these are the hub of the local community and irreplaceable during crises like local flooding or during the pandemic.

Please check with your local centres for opening times and bear in mind you’ll have to book on to a class of some kind as they are opening in order to facilitate the fact that it’s now possible for up to 15 adults to meet indoors for organised activities. Support groups and such can now meet again in person.

■ Visit one other household indoors (as long as it’s exclusive): Great news! You can join up with one other household indoors, which might be a relief if it’s raining.

This extended household pairing is extra to a single-person household bubble.

Earlier changes to coronavirus restrictions mean you can already go to the pub.

One of the things most of us have missed during the past few months is going to our local to meet friends for a drink or a bite to eat. Pubs and restaurants in Wales have already been given the green light to serve customers outdoors and people can meet up in line with ‘rule of six’ restrictions. A decision when to reopen pubs indoors will be confirmed in the coming weeks, but May 17 is the suggested date as it stands. It means many pubs and restaurants have been adapting by installing new garden areas and introducing new technology so customers can order via an app.

And while people in Wales have been able to travel across the border to England since April 12, Scotland only reopened to visitors from April 26.

Hotels and other accommodation facilities are now able to welcome back visitors – though two households cannot stay in the same accommodation in Scotland until May 17.

We can also now go to an outdoor wedding reception and meet up with six people from different households outdoors.