BRAVE NEW WORLD RESPONDING TO THE NEW NORMAL

SWIMMING Adam Knight, who owns Angel Swim London, which runs lessons for babies and children, said it was vital to get people back in the pool.

“After three months of no activity obesity levels will inevitably increase, so it’s important people get back to exercise,” he said.

He has installed hand sanitiser pods and will be checking the temperatures of his students.

Swimmers will be asked to wear their costumes under their clothes to avoid using the changing rooms.

Meanwhile, Paul Ford, chairman of Aquavision, a synchronised swimming club in north London, said social distancing made a return to the sport difficult.

“The most you will be able to swim is a duet, and you can only do that if the swimmers aren’t close to each other,” he said.

“That is a bit pointless to be honest.”

SALONS

Celebrity facialist Teresa Tarmey, who runs a salon in Belgravia, said she has had to close her Kensington branch permanently as a result of the pandemic. She is frustrated by the lack of clarity about the beauty business.

She said: “They say hairdressers are allowed to open because they are treating someone from behind, but they have to touch customers’ heads just like we do.”

When she is allowed to reopen, her staff will continue to wear face masks but will also be given visors for extra protection.

GYMS Mark Anthony, who owns First Light gym, in Westfield, west London, said it would take time to put all the required measures in place to reopen safely. He is allowed to reopen from later this month but expects to wait until August.

Once it reopens, the exercise bikes will be spaced further apart, but the changing rooms will remain open as Mr Anthony said the gym has some of the largest changing rooms of any “boutique” in London.

“This has really been a chance to think about how we are going to move the business forward and get people back into cycling,” he said.

AMATEUR SPORT Johnnie Walker, chairman of the Hackney and Leyton Sunday Football League, said: “Our teams are desperate to get back out there and get some proper exercise.”

Wavertree Cricket Club, in Liverpool, meanwhile, will return to action tomorrow with a practice match.

Club chairman Phillip O’brien said he expected around 35 adults to play cricket in some form.

However, players will be required to take regular breaks to wash their hands and the club buildings will remain closed except for the lavatories.

Mr O’brien said: “There’s some trepidation because I think anyone who pretends to understand what all of the risks are is kidding themselves.”