Mardyke Arena UCC provides update on what their reopening will look like 

The Mardyke Arena UCC has released an eight-page public document informing existing and prospective members what changes will be in place when the health and leisure centre reopens.

Patsy Ryan, General Manager of the Mardyke Arena UCC said that when the Arena does reopen it will be "a very different facility and service to the one we knew before". 

Mr Ryan stated that the health and safety of staff and members is of paramount importance and that the Arena is guaranteeing "best practice in the area of social distancing, hygiene and sanitisation".

Both the swimming pool and the gym will operate on a time slot booking system. 

After each session, the areas will undergo a deep cleaning. 

"Our swimming pool will operate on a time slot booking system with 50 minutes allocated for swim and 40 minutes allocated to clear/deep clean and sanitise the area before the next time slot," the Mardyke Arena UCC states in the e-publication on their website.

Initially, there will be a limit of 40 people in the pool at any one given time, subject to review as the weeks go by.

The sauna and steam room will remain closed and are "unlikely to reopen soon".

The fitness gyms will operate one-hour slots, followed by a 30 minute deep clean. 

"Numbers in our new fitness gym located on the indoor running track (new location) will be 50 members per hour, our fitness gyms overlooking the pool will cater for 40 and our weights gym will cater for 30,” the Arena states. 

This will be monitored and the numbers increased in time if it is safe to do so. 

Locker rooms and showers will not be available for fitness gym members during the initial weeks. 

Slots for the gym and pool can be booked using the Mardyke Arena UCC App.

The Mardyke Arena UCC will offer a limited fitness class schedule upon reopening and has stated that they are considering some outdoor classes, weather permitting. 

Commencing on July 13 the Mardyke Arena UCC will be doing facility tours in small groups through online bookings. "Our aim is to showcase the amazing positive changes that we have made to the Arena since lockdown, promote confidence in your return to the Arena and address any questions and queries that you may have for us," they stated. 

In the meantime, the Arena is continuing online classes via the Mardyke Arena UCC Facebook Page until the centre reopens. 

There is also a number of workout videos on Echo Live as part of the 'Keeping Cork Healthy' series in association with the Mardyke Arena UCC. 

The Mardyke Arena UCC has stated that they will keep members up to date with reopening plans over the coming weeks. 

The government has announced the gyms can reopen on June 29.