Many gyms allow people to remove their masks during workouts, as if the coronavirus politely refrains from infecting other people during exercise. It won’t, of course. Even if it’s legal to exercise without masks wherever you are, that doesn’t make it a good idea.
Recently, the CDC highlighted some cases of high-profile events at gyms. In a Chicago gym, 81 people were exposed to the coronavirus during classes and 55 suffered symptoms. The gym separated people six feet away, required masks on arrival, and used temperature controls and symptom detection to try to exclude anyone who was ill.
But, as we should know now, you can get infected for about a day before the symptoms start. Therefore, a person may show up to class without having any idea that he is ill, and then take his exercise class without a mask. The CDC report also found that sometimes people showed up to class while waiting for test results. Not surprisingly, all of this adds up to a good way to spread the virus.
We’ve seen it before. Remember the Canadian cycling studio that followed all the rules, including how the rules allowed classes without a mask? Or the outbreak in Hawaii gyms where no masks were needed?
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A room full of people breathing heavily, without masks or proper ventilation, is a risky place during a coronavirus pandemic. To those who complain that it is annoying or even impossible to exercise with a mask on, I say, if you can’t do it with a mask on, you shouldn’t do it indoors with other people.
The CDC report on the Chicago gym has this to say about safer exercise, emphasizing:
To reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to fitness facilities, attendees should wear a mask, including high-intensity activities when there is a gap of ≥ 6 feet. In addition, facilities should apply physical distancing, improve ventilation, and encourage attendees to isolate themselves after the onset of symptoms or to receive a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. is quarantined after possible exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and while awaiting test results. Exercising outdoors or in practice could further reduce the risk of transmitting SARS-CoV-2.
If the gym doesn’t require others to wear masks, you’re most likely not going to. If you decide to take the risk and attend anyway, consider avoiding cardio classes where everyone breathes heavily and minimize the amount of time you spend in the building.
We also have a summary here of home workout ideas. Watch a training video. Use a fitness app for groups! Get some weights or resistance bands! Unsubscribe and invest in one the whole home gym! Out and go running! And if you’ve already tried everything, we have some ideas what to do when you get bored training at home.