A PERSONAL trainer says closing gyms to slow the spread of the virus would “make it difficult” for coaches to do their job.

Joe Addison, 40 said it would be hard to work with clients online if gyms were forced to close again to curb the spread of coronavirus.

The personal trainer would have to move sessions online, which could prove difficult for gym-goers with little workout space at home.

He spoke as the Prime Minister announced a new three-tier lockdown system that aims to stop the spread of the virus.

Mr Addison, who is from Brighton, said locking down gyms again would be a financial risk to self-employed trainers.

He said: “It is doable online but not everyone has equipment or a space to workout at home.

“When we were in full lockdown, Zoom was helpful but it wasn’t ideal.

“It is tricky as a self-employed person as well to make sure you can get income coming through.

“It is going to be difficult.”

The new system is split into three alert levels: medium, high and very high.

Most areas in England are in the medium alert level, meaning current restrictions continue, including the 10pm hospitality curfew.

Areas already under additional local restrictions are automatically in the high alert level, meaning bans on household mixing indoors are extended to include hospitality venues.

Gyms and leisure centres were forced to close in March, as the country entered a national lockdown, in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.

The facilities were then given the green light to reopen in July

but faced social distancing measures.

The new tier system means if an area is deemed to be at a very high level, bars, gyms and restaurants would be forced to close.