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1/ Q: Is there really a risk of #COVID19 transmission at the #gym?
A: Unfortunately, yes. While we appreciate the importance of exercise for our physical & mental health, there HAVE been documented instances of COVID-19 spread in gyms and fitness studios.
A: Unfortunately, yes. While we appreciate the importance of exercise for our physical & mental health, there HAVE been documented instances of COVID-19 spread in gyms and fitness studios.
2/ In this infographic, we can see a case example where just TWO group fitness studios resulted in 67 positive cases & a cascade of isolation & quarantine keeping folks from work & school. But what makes something as innocent as a fitness class so far-reaching?
3/ It’s helpful to think through the #SMART principles when considering how COVID might spread in a gym:
SPACE: We’ve all gasped for air during a tough workout. In these times, that means pushing air/droplets even farther across the room, & thus needing more physical distance.
SPACE: We’ve all gasped for air during a tough workout. In these times, that means pushing air/droplets even farther across the room, & thus needing more physical distance.
4/ 
MASKS: Masking up is KEY to increasing safety in gyms – while most require masks, there are of course places that don’t enforce this or folks who take their mask off for a particularly tough set, creating a risky situation.
MASKS: Masking up is KEY to increasing safety in gyms – while most require masks, there are of course places that don’t enforce this or folks who take their mask off for a particularly tough set, creating a risky situation.
5/ 
AIR: Fresh air is safer, but gyms don’t have a lot of it. Some gyms may have had the luxury of upgrading their ventilation this year, but often those tiny cycling rooms and cozy yoga studios aren’t bringing in enough fresh air to reduce transmission.
AIR: Fresh air is safer, but gyms don’t have a lot of it. Some gyms may have had the luxury of upgrading their ventilation this year, but often those tiny cycling rooms and cozy yoga studios aren’t bringing in enough fresh air to reduce transmission.
6/ 
RESTRICT: Keeping your social circle small can be complicated by visits to the gym – even your beloved gym community members might be taking more risks than you would be comfortable with when they’re not working out.
RESTRICT: Keeping your social circle small can be complicated by visits to the gym – even your beloved gym community members might be taking more risks than you would be comfortable with when they’re not working out.
7/ 
TIME: Shorter is safer, and while there’s no “magic” number of minutes that can keep you safe, that 45-minute cardio boxing workout is probably not short enough if you’re considering the CDC threshold of 15 total min to be considered a close contact of someone with COVID-19.
TIME: Shorter is safer, and while there’s no “magic” number of minutes that can keep you safe, that 45-minute cardio boxing workout is probably not short enough if you’re considering the CDC threshold of 15 total min to be considered a close contact of someone with COVID-19.
8/ A few public health experts tackled this same question in a recent piece from @NPR, emphasizing consistent mask use & physical distancing indoors as a particularly important component of safer gym workouts. https://n.pr/2JDAvFE
9/ They also note the challenge of indoor ventilation – how do you know if you are in a well-ventilated space? The air quality expert quoted in NPR notes that most air filtration systems STILL don’t make an indoor room as safe as the outdoors.
10/ This article reminds us of the foundational 
: *WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF DISEASE IN YOUR COMMUNITY?* As places around the U.S. are experiencing new surges, it’s likelier that someone with #COVID may unwittingly wander into your gym & spread the virus.
: *WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF DISEASE IN YOUR COMMUNITY?* As places around the U.S. are experiencing new surges, it’s likelier that someone with #COVID may unwittingly wander into your gym & spread the virus.
11/ Even with all that, it’s not easy to say “GYM = BAD.” We know there are tremendous benefits to exercise & the sense of community that fitness studios can offer. But if you don’t feel like you can stay #SMART while at your local gym here are a few ideas to help support them:
12/ 
Keep your regular fitness membership, if you can afford to do so
Look to see if you can purchase online classes to work out from home
Have a favorite instructor? Find out if they offer virtual personal training
Keep your regular fitness membership, if you can afford to do so Look to see if you can purchase online classes to work out from home Have a favorite instructor? Find out if they offer virtual personal training
