Gyms in Greater Manchester set to remain open despite region’s move into Tier 3

Greater Manchester will join Liverpool and Lancashire in Tier 3 at the stroke of midnight on Thursday evening.

Under the new rules, pubs and bars that do not serve ‘substantial’ meals must close, with bookies, adult gaming centres and bingo halls also told to shut their doors.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson specifically outlined these businesses during his address on Tuesday as he informed the public Greater Manchester was destined for Tier 3.

But there remains some confusion over gyms.

Fitness centres are closed in one Tier 3 region (Liverpool) but open in another (Lancashire).

As for Greater Manchester, the rules should become clearer later today. But as things stand, it appears gyms will be allowed to stay open.

The PM did not cover fitness centres of any kind during his speech, suggesting that workout venues will be able to operate as normal much like in neighbouring Tier 3 region Lancashire.

Unsurprisingly, this has stirred frustration in Liverpool.

A petition to stop gyms closing in Tier 3 regions was created shortly after Liverpool City Region became the first part of England to enter the ‘very high’ risk category; quickly amassing the support required for debate in parliament.

According to the Liverpool Echo, the government is finally ‘actively looking’ at the issue, with The Metro claiming that ministers will allow the reopening of fitness centres in Merseyside in the coming days.

The gym confusion has added volume to the calls for standardisation of Tier 3 lockdown rules.

But Boris Johnson has maintained that the tier system remains the best approach to tackle COVID-19 – claiming the virus is far more scattered during this second wave than it was back in March.

Greater Manchester will enter Tier 3 from 00.01 GMT Friday.