Gyms, Swimming Pools, Outdoor Exercise Parks...Your best guess when they will open up?

[WaveHunter]

 

 

I recognize nobody has a definitive answer but I'm just curious what everyone's "best guess" is?  One of the worst aspects of lockdowns is simply having no idea when it will end, so it just lessens some of the anxiety to hear what smart, well-informed people think and why.

 

The last "lockdown" in 2020 took months before these things opened up.  Considering how much more is known about the virus now, I would assume the the duration will be far less. 

 

My guess is mid-February.  I'm basing this primarily on the feeling that authorities acted much more quickly and decisively this time in putting already proven restrictions in place, compared with last year when a lot of decisions were made out of fear of the unknown. 

 

As a result of prompt decisive action in the last week, new case reportings seem to have already peaked and are starting to trend down daily now.  So maybe by mid-February there will be no new domestic cases (as the situation was for over 6 months until the fiasco in December).  So perhaps things start to open up as early as mid-February??

 

What's your "educated" guesstimate, and why?

Edited January 12, 2021 by metisdead
Edited at member's request.

[wasabi]

This is purely a guesstimate but like during the 1st Covid wave we need to see the daily case numbers start going down, perhaps to single digits before they will allow such venues to open. Your guess is as good as mine so the end of February is possible. I agree the open ended nature of gyms and pools being closed is depressing but it is what it is.

[Mops59]

As far as I know pools are still open. In the last publication of restriction they didn't mention pools. So. Enjoy the "cold" water 24°C.

[jacko45k]

36 minutes ago, Mops59 said:

As far as I know pools are still open. In the last publication of restriction they didn't mention pools. So. Enjoy the "cold" water 24°C.

Only got as far as my ankles today......

[WaveHunter]

1 hour ago, Mops59 said:

As far as I know pools are still open. In the last publication of restriction they didn't mention pools. So. Enjoy the "cold" water 24°C.

That's incorrect.  All "public" pools in Chon Buri Province were ordered to be closed as of 31 December.  It is at the discretion of "private pools" (i.e.: Condo pools) to remain open , but my condo, and all the other condos that I am personally aware of, have also closed their pools.

Edited January 12, 2021 by WaveHunter

[WaveHunter]

1 hour ago, Mops59 said:

As far as I know pools are still open. In the last publication of restriction they didn't mention pools. So. Enjoy the "cold" water 24°C.

Actually I've been swimming off the beach the last few days and it's not so bad really.  It has been averaging around 28°C.  That's actually warmer than the air temperature this morning ????  Not so bad after a few minutes in the water.  

 

Edited January 12, 2021 by WaveHunter

[MrJ]

Pratamnak/Budha Hill park and jogging trails has been open yesterday already

[WaveHunter]

41 minutes ago, MrJ said:

Pratamnak/Budha Hill park and jogging trails has been open yesterday already

Are you sure about that?  I mean, have you actually been there and seen people jogging and using the exercise facilities?? 

 

It's one of my favorite spots for jogging and so I hope you are right but the Provincial order specifically said that ALL public parks and outdoor exercise spots were ordered closed and I have heard nothing of that order being rescinded in the last few days.

[redwood1]

4 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

Actually I've been swimming off the beach the last few days and it's not so bad really.  It has been averaging around 28°C.  That's actually warmer than the air temperature this morning ????  Not so bad after a few minutes in the water.  

 

Pattaya's sea water is a lot lot lot better than it was a few years ago....Koh larn is vastly better for swimming but it's a bit of a inconvenience to go out there just for a dip in the ocean... 

Edited January 12, 2021 by redwood1

[redwood1]

I seriously would not get your hopes up for a February pool opening....We are just having a little downturn in covid now......Look for a possible reopening a number of weeks after flu season....In case anyone has not noticed they shut the pools down around here lightening fast but they open them back-up sloooowly.....

 

What closing a pool has to do with covid I have no idea....Markets have way more people than any pool and they are still open... 

[jacko45k]

10 hours ago, redwood1 said:

Pattaya's sea water is a lot lot lot better than it was a few years ago....Koh larn is vastly better for swimming but it's a bit of a inconvenience to go out there just for a dip in the ocean... 

And the fact that is has closed....

[soi3eddie]

16 hours ago, Mops59 said:

As far as I know pools are still open. In the last publication of restriction they didn't mention pools. So. Enjoy the "cold" water 24°C.

 

My Bangkok condo pool remains open although our gym is closed. Out of 99 rooms only about 5 or 6 rooms ever use either facility. I'm glad that the pool is open and use it most days - too cold (and lazy) yesterday but am planning a "bracing" dip today. Feel sorry for those whose pools are unnecessarily closed as chances of virus transmission must be less than going to the market or 7-11.

 

Edited January 12, 2021 by soi3eddie

[spiekerjozef]

My guess is Christmas.

[HashBrownHarry]

1 hour ago, spiekerjozef said:

My guess is Christmas.

What year?

[Guderian]

I think the authorities in Chonburi allowed swimming pools to reopen in late May or early June last year, after Pattaya (i.e. Banglamung) had gone 60+ days without a locally-transmitted case.

Since locally-transmitted cases were  reported here yesterday, my guess is that late-February to mid-March is the earliest we can hope for, and if local cases keep on popping up then just keep adding 6 to 8 weeks to the current date. They may reduce it to 4 weeks, I suppose, but probably not less than that.

[MrJ]

17 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

Are you sure about that?  I mean, have you actually been there and seen people jogging and using the exercise facilities?? 

 

It's one of my favorite spots for jogging and so I hope you are right but the Provincial order specifically said that ALL public parks and outdoor exercise spots were ordered closed and I have heard nothing of that order being rescinded in the last few days.

yes been there on Sunday and seen hundreds of people jogging

[WaveHunter]

14 hours ago, redwood1 said:

I seriously would not get your hopes up for a February pool opening....We are just having a little downturn in covid now......Look for a possible reopening a number of weeks after flu season....In case anyone has not noticed they shut the pools down around here lightening fast but they open them back-up sloooowly.....

 

What closing a pool has to do with covid I have no idea....Markets have way more people than any pool and they are still open... 

Good point about the impact of Flu season on all of this.  And I completely agree that closing pools makes little sense considering 1) chlorine or salt treatment of pools lowers risk of virus proliferating, 2) It's rare to see many swimming pools that crowded with people (at least as far as condo pools are concerned).

 

What really baffles me is that I've observed that tennis courts are open yet pool is closed at a major condo complex next door to me.  And, I've just been informed (not seen yet for myself) that Pratumnak Park is open with many joggers and exercisers freely using the facilities.  WHAT the hell is going on anyway???  Makes no sense at all to me!

[MaiDong]

5 minutes ago, WaveHunter said:

Good point about the impact of Flu season on all of this.  And I completely agree that closing pools makes little sense considering 1) chlorine or salt treatment of pools lowers risk of virus proliferating, 2) It's rare to see many swimming pools that crowded with people (at least as far as condo pools are concerned).

 

What really baffles me is that I've observed that tennis courts are open yet pool is closed at a major condo complex next door to me.  And, I've just been informed (not seen yet for myself) that Pratumnak Park is open with many joggers and exercisers freely using the facilities.  WHAT the hell is going on anyway???  Makes no sense at all to me!

I've stopped going to my regular pool because they changed from chlorine to natural salt a few years back, and whilst I understand that there's very little difference between salt & chlorine in the treatment of swimming pools, I can't be sure if they're using the correct amount of salt to be effective, the water doesn't taste salt at all, I'm just not sure about it. 

 

[WaveHunter]

11 minutes ago, MaiDong said:

I've stopped going to my regular pool because they changed from chlorine to natural salt a few years back, and whilst I understand that there's very little difference between salt & chlorine in the treatment of swimming pools, I can't be sure if they're using the correct amount of salt to be effective, the water doesn't taste salt at all, I'm just not sure about it. 

 

I agree.  I just moved to Jomtien (Pattaya) from Chiang Mai, and my former condo in Chiang Mai had a beautiful Olympic sized pool (actually two of them) and I'd see the pool maintenance guy checking the salinity of the pool each morning from my deck.  I know how it's supposed to be done, and the way he would do it was VERY haphazard and not at all professional.

 

Over a period of months a lot of people that were regular swimmers were coming down with all sort of ailments and many of them felt it was related to the pool yet nothing was ever done to address it.

Edited January 13, 2021 by WaveHunter

[MaiDong]

1 hour ago, WaveHunter said:

I agree.  I just moved to Jomtien (Pattaya) from Chiang Mai, and my former condo in Chiang Mai had a beautiful Olympic sized pool (actually two of them) and I'd see the pool maintenance guy checking the salinity of the pool each morning from my deck.  I know how it's supposed to be done, and the way he would do it was VERY haphazard and not at all professional.

 

Over a period of months a lot of people that were regular swimmers were coming down with all sort of ailments and many of them felt it was related to the pool yet nothing was ever done to address it.

Standard. 

 

[Wuvu2]

22 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

Are you sure about that?  I mean, have you actually been there and seen people jogging and using the exercise facilities?? 

 

It's one of my favorite spots for jogging and so I hope you are right but the Provincial order specifically said that ALL public parks and outdoor exercise spots were ordered closed and I have heard nothing of that order being rescinded in the last few days.

I've been there every day lately. It's open. There are police in their usual points on the paths and no issues.

[jingjo01]

The Municipal Park which has outdoor exercise and basketball spaces in Bang Saray has never closed. Every afternoon/ evening Thai teenagers are playing non competition basketball. No masks and obviously no social distancing. Perhaps the local tessaban is unaware of the Chonburi Governors instructions ?

[Hanuman2547]

I would assume the big parks in Bangkok like Lumpini, Benjakitti, Rama IX, and Non Bon would still be open as well as Skylane out at the airport.

[redwood1]

At our condo they have not only closed the pool and the gym they have also installed a disinfectant sprayer like this one.....

I really dont think its healthy to get sprayed with disinfectant multiple times every day.......But if you walk through really fast you can avoid most of the spray....

 

 

[jacko45k]

1 minute ago, redwood1 said:

I really dont think its healthy to get sprayed with disinfectant multiple times every day

I don't think it is healthy to catch Covid either, but this is very visual and likely has impact due to that. They had something similar at the place I pay my water bill on Chaiyapornvidhi.... wasn't working. 

[Dart12]

21 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

Good point about the impact of Flu season on all of this.  And I completely agree that closing pools makes little sense considering 1) chlorine or salt treatment of pools lowers risk of virus proliferating, 2) It's rare to see many swimming pools that crowded with people (at least as far as condo pools are concerned).

 

What really baffles me is that I've observed that tennis courts are open yet pool is closed at a major condo complex next door to me.  And, I've just been informed (not seen yet for myself) that Pratumnak Park is open with many joggers and exercisers freely using the facilities.  WHAT the hell is going on anyway???  Makes no sense at all to me!

what is available at 'the facilities?"

Oh, my condo pool is open btw.

 

[5633572526]

On 1/12/2021 at 2:59 PM, WaveHunter said:

That's incorrect.  All "public" pools in Chon Buri Province were ordered to be closed as of 31 December.  It is at the discretion of "private pools" (i.e.: Condo pools) to remain open , but my condo, and all the other condos that I am personally aware of, have also closed their pools.

Pool is open at my condo and also the running track. Gym is closed but that just took the people from the treadmills and put them on a now more crowded running track 

[WaveHunter]

1 hour ago, Dart12 said:

what is available at 'the facilities?"

Oh, my condo pool is open btw.

 

facilities = basketball/exercise courts, rest areas / toilet facilities, etc...

[Henryford]

What "parks" are these?

[Dart12]

3 hours ago, WaveHunter said:

facilities = basketball/exercise courts, rest areas / toilet facilities, etc...

got a photo of "exercise courts"?  What do those have to use?   

I'm desperate.????

Edited January 14, 2021 by Dart12