A popular leisure centre chain is to make the use of face coverings mandatory in its centres from next week.
Brio Leisure, who operate a centre in Ellesmere Port, have said the wearing of face coverings will now become mandatory at all of their 11 centres.
The news follows after the government expanded its list of places where face coverings are to become mandatory.
The use of face coverings in shops and supermarkets became mandatory on July 24 following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic earlier this year.
It was already a requirement to wear them on public transport and measures can be taken if people do not comply with the law.
The government introduced the law to make the wearing of face coverings in relevant places mandatory as part of further efforts to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
Cheshire Live reports Brio Leisure's new rules mean every person entering the building must wear a face mask at all times - but the leisure company have said this does not apply when undertaking your activity.
Posting on its Facebook page this morning, Brio Leisure said: "We’ve got an important update on our centres - as of Monday, August 17 face coverings will be mandatory to wear at all times inside of our centres, except when undertaking your activity.
"This is part of our next phase of opening, in which we begin to allow more people into our centres.
"Staff will be wearing face coverings too, but we don’t have the resources to hand out complimentary face coverings to visitors, nor have the set up to sell these, so please remember to bring yours or you won’t be able to enter the centre.
"Thanks for your cooperation, it helps ensure the safety of our staff and customers."
Brio Leisure also has centres in Christleton, Frodsham, Northwich, Neston, Chester and Winsford.
Recently their centres in Northwich and Winsford had to close temporarily for a deep clean after a member of staff tested positive for coronavirus.
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But the face mask announcement this morning has caused some confusion.
One person asked: "Can you clarify what this means in regards to exercise bookings please?
"Obviously you won't wear one once the class starts but are we expected to wear them when we enter the building, line up waiting for classes, use the loo before class, when we leave the booking?"
Brio Leisure replied that they ask that you wear one from the point you line up to enter the building until you begin your fitness session, adding: "then you can remove it, but you'll just need to pop it back on when you leave the building again."
Brio Leisure is a council-owned community interest company which runs leisure services on behalf of the council.
