With many gym members still wondering if their clubs are safe and fitness industry officials are warning they are facing a fight for survival, an analysis of Colorado health data by researchers at the University of Oregon suggests there is little spread of COVID-19 in state gyms.
The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, which commissioned the study, reported in October that the data showed a miniscule infection rate in U.S. gyms of 1,155 cases out of a total of 49.4 million check-ins (0.0023 %). It then asked the Oregon Consulting Group, located at the University of Oregon, to conduct an independent investigation. Those researchers chose Colorado to study and analyzed data from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
The research, based on CDPHE statistics through Nov. 18, was published Dec. 7. It included 32 weeks of Colorado gym attendance data, which equates to nearly 8.5 million check-ins, and found no association with 59 CDPHE-reported outbreaks.
“Available data suggests that gyms are not a predominant source of COVID-19 outbreaks compared to other settings,” the study said. “No outbreaks have been reported in gyms or similar sports facilities.” An outbreak is defined as a transmission event involving two or more people in a workplace or facility.
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The data indicated that gyms are safer than bars, restaurants and supermarkets, while more than half of COVID-19 outbreaks came from “health care settings”.
Colorado gyms are seeking five-star certifications from their countries to transition from Level Red capacity constraints to Level Orange, a program announced by CDPHE last week. Fitness capabilities in Level Red counties were reduced from 25% to 10% last month, which industry officials called “unsustainable” for their businesses.
The Colorado Fitness Coalition, formed in August to speak with one voice on behalf of the industry, said the state would face the loss of an estimated 200 gyms, 22,000 jobs and $ 12 million in payroll taxes if restrictions are not relaxed soon. . In a typical year, the Colorado fitness industry generates $ 695 million, the coalition said.
RELATED: Gyms in Colorado say the 10% capacity limits are “un-survivable” for us
“Gyms continue to struggle at a dramatic pace and we are losing more and more gyms,” said JoAnna Masloski, member of the coalition’s advisory board and chief operating officer for the Colorado Athletic Club’s seven Front Range facilities. “We need to have a higher capacity to survive. We are not propagators. We work as hard as we can to achieve this five-star certification.
“Regardless, we are not scatterers and we are punished, unlike malls – uncontrolled environments, uncontrolled people walking around and touching each other,” said Masloski. ‘They don’t get punished and our gyms are in trouble. We go to malls and say, “Oh, my God, our businesses are about to die, and you don’t control them.” “
“We don’t want to harm any industry, we just want people to know we’re safe,” she said. “We are a controlled environment. This has now been proven to be the case. We need to increase our capacity. “
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