In many gyms, people can remove their masks while exercising, as if the coronavirus politely refrains from infecting others while exercising. Of course not. Even if it’s legal to practice maskless where you are, that’s not a good idea yet.
The CDC recently highlighted a few instances of superspreader events in gyms. In a gym in Chicago81 people were exposed to the coronavirus during classes and 55 developed symptoms. The gym placed people six feet apart, required masks on arrival, and used temperature checks and symptom screening to try to rule out anyone who was sick.
But as we should all know by now, you can be contagious for a day or so before your symptoms start. So a person can show up for class without feeling ill, and then take their exercise class without wearing a mask. The CDC report also found that people sometimes came to class while waiting for test results. Unsurprisingly, all of this is a great way to spread the virus.
We’ve seen this before. To remember the Canadian cycling studio that followed all the rules, including how the rules allowed maskless classes? Or the outbreak in gyms in Hawaii where masks weren’t needed?
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A room full of people breathing heavily, with no masks or adequate ventilation, is a risky place to be during a coronavirus pandemic. To those who complain that it is annoying or even impossible to practice wearing a mask, I say: if you can’t do it with a mask on, you shouldn’t do it indoors with other people.
The CDC Chicago gym report has this to say about making exercise safer, emphasizing me:
To reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission in fitness facilities, Participants should wear a mask even during intense activities when they are ≥6 ft apartIn addition, facilities should enforce physical distance, improve ventilation and encourage participants to isolate after symptom onset or receive and quarantine a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result following potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and pending test results. Training outdoors or virtually could further reduce the risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2.
If your gym doesn’t require others to wear masks, it’s safest just not to go. If you choose to take the risk and participate anyway, consider avoiding cardio classes where everyone is breathing heavily, and minimize the amount of time you spend in the building
We also have an overview of home workout ideasWatch a training video! Use a group fitness appGet something dumbbells or resistance bandsCancel your membership and invest in one whole home gymGo outside and go for a runAnd if you’ve already tried all of that, we have some ideas on it what to do if you are bored during your home workout