Gyms in Seoul ordered to dial back exercise music and slow treadmills to curb Covid

Fitness fans in South Korea will be forced to take things at a slightly less frenetic pace in an effort to curb the spread of Covid.

Gyms in the capital Seoul have been ordered to dial down treadmills to a maximum speed of 6km/h (3.7mph) and high-energy fitness classes such as spinning and aerobics will feature slower background music, between 100-120 beats per minutes.

Health authorities hope the slower pace will mean less sweat and saliva in the enclosed environments as the country recorded its seventh straight day of more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases.

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Authorities said that more than 800 of the 1,150 new cases are in the greater capital area, where officials have also shut down nightclubs and prohibited private social gatherings of three or more people after 6pm.

Among other measures introduced are gym shower rooms will be closed, spectators are barred from attending sports events, churches will close, visitors will be banned at nursing homes and hospitals and weddings and funerals will be limited to family-only gatherings.Restaurants are dine-in only until 10pm and demonstrations are limited to one person.

There are signs the virus is spreading beyond the Seoul metropolitan area as the country enters its summer holiday period.

Busan, Daegu, Daejeon and South Chungcheong Province are among the major cities and regions that reported dozens of new infections.

South Korea has added more than 13,000 cases this month alone, bringing its total for the pandemic to 170,296, including 2,046 deaths from COVID-19.