Health clubs in Northern Ireland will open on April 30, group exercises must wait until May 24

Health clubs and gymnasiums will be able to open their doors for individual training on April 30.

As with other home countries, however, indoor group exercises will have to wait a bit longer – in the case of Northern Ireland, until May 24.

Outdoor competitive sport, meanwhile, will be back on April 23.

The announcement was made by Prime Minister Arlene Foster, who revealed last night (April 15) plans by the Northern Ireland executive office to lift lockdown restrictions across the country.

“As of April 30, individual activities in gyms, swimming pools and other large venues are permitted – including with a caregiver and to allow 1-2-1 training / coaching with social distancing,” Foster said. .

“The competitive outdoor sport will return a week earlier (April 23), with a number of participants limited to 100 and no spectators allowed.”

Other operators in the leisure sector that have been given a reopening date include outdoor tourist attractions – including outdoor activity centers – which can now begin to prepare for a relaunch date on the 23rd. April. Indoor attractions will have to wait until May 24.

Spas and beauty salons are not specifically mentioned in the press release, although the British Beauty Council highlighted the reopening of “close contact services” – including training – on April 23 by appointment only as a potential date of release. ‘interest.

The board said it will update its members once the guidelines are published in full.

Arlene Foster said: “This is a historic day for Northern Ireland as we move firmly and confidently on the road to recovery.

“I am happy and proud that through our collective efforts we have reached a point where we have established a good level of control over the virus. “

To see the full press release and reopening dates published by the Executive, Click here.