CTS Negative Opinion on Reopening Gyms and Swimming Pools
The date of the reopening of gyms and swimming pools moves away. These are the new variants of Covid-19 that are spreading in Italy, especially the English variant that worries the experts, who have led the government to the utmost caution, also advocated by the Technical Scientific Committee for the resumption of indoor sports. Gyms, swimming pools, sports centers, indoor lessons will be postponed.
With the increase of outbreaks in many areas of the country, and the establishment of the reinforced orange zones and therefore of yet another lockdown, a "third wave" of the pandemic is feared. It is difficult to think of being able to loosen the bans with the next Dpcm that will be signed by the Prime Minister Mario Draghi, after being shared with the Regions and Parliament.
When will gyms and swimming pools be able to reopen?
The gyms and swimming pools will only be able to reopen when the number of infections is 50 people per one hundred thousand inhabitants. Very low numbers, from the "white band", but which, according to experts, should be observed with the "utmost caution". It is difficult to be able to give a date and establish exactly when gyms, swimming pools and sports centers will open: it will depend on the occurrence of different conditions. The most probable hypothesis is to postpone the decision on possible reopening to the end of March or even to the second week of April, after the Easter holidays.
Epidemiological curve and vaccines: the parameters for reopening
A downward epidemiological curve and an increase in vaccinated people would be the conditions for evaluating the restart of entire sectors that have been stopped for a year. The first step to be achieved, for the experts, would be to be able to vaccinate 20-30% of the population. Under consideration, when the conditions and the situation of the infections will become stable, the evening opening of restaurants, the resumption of indoor sports activities in the gym, sports centers and swimming pools, and the opening of theaters and cinemas, as well as the entrances to museums on weekends.
Opening of gyms and swimming pools postponed
The Ministry of Sport had made a request to the Scientific Technical Committee to evaluate a possible restart of the sport, which has been stopped for a year now. Again, the answer was based on numbers. Figures that define the spread of the infection at this time and that are further lowered: gyms and swimming pools will only be able to reopen when the number of infections is 50 people per hundred thousand inhabitants. A decidedly low parameter that, in the evaluation that the Higher Institute of Health makes every Friday on the weekly monitoring, would make a region fall even in the white zone. In the coming weeks, the indicators could be revised. This would also make it possible to program contingent entries into the structures sports who in this way could resume the activity.
Why is the opening to sport postponed?
It is the English variant of the coronavirus that is of greatest concern. A variant that spreads more easily, even among young people, and is more contagious by 38%. The peak, according to expert estimates, will be recorded by mid-March. According to the Scientific Technical Committee, therefore, the provisions contained in the Dpcm which will expire on March 5 should be reconfirmed, while still keeping gyms and swimming pools closed for 2-4 weeks.
In the swimming pool, however, the risk of contagion would be very low. It seems that chlorine from swimming pools inactivates Coronavirus very quickly and effectively, at least according to a new study.
