How to Return to the Gym Safely
Next up on New York State鈥檚 reopening list: gyms and fitness centers.听Enter 五月天视频鈥檚 David P. Calfee, MD, MS,听c丑颈别蹿听h辞蝉辫颈迟补濒听epidemiologist for听NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.听
鈥A lot of the things that someone going to the gym (or to any other public setting for that matter) should do are done in order to protect听other听people,鈥澨Dr. Calfee听explains. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why it is important for听everyone听to do these things, regardless of what they think about their personal risk of acquiring COVID-19 while at the gym.鈥听
The bottom听line? 鈥淕yms can be safe places only when EVERYONE plays by the rules.鈥澨听听
Here鈥檚听what you need to know, Dr. Calfee says:听听听
Do not go听to the gym听if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or a known recent exposure to COVID-19.听
Most of the potential risks associated contracting the virus at the gym are the same as those for contracting the virus in other settings: gatherings of large numbers of people in close proximity to one another within indoor spaces.听Physical exertion听also听may increase the generation of respiratory droplets, which can transmit the virus from person to person. This is confounded by the ability to be infectious while you are entirely asymptomatic.听听听
While staying home from the gym while you are ill is very important, that alone is not sufficient to prevent transmission.听 That鈥檚 why it is important for everyone going to a gym (or any other public setting) to adhere to recommended prevention strategies.听
If you鈥檝e just traveled from a state on听, please听do not听go to the gym during your quarantine.
Wear a face mask throughout your time in the gym.
In locker rooms and showers,听people听will be听taking off their masks to shower听and听change clothes.听Lockers rooms and shower facilities are more confined spaces in which ventilation may not be optimal.
Perform hand hygiene frequently.
You know what to do: pick a song and sing it for 20 second to make sure you鈥檙e washing your hands thoroughly. Look for听hand sanitizer听and hand wipes, which should be听widely available in the facility.听
Make sure the听staff听and gym-goers are cleaning and听disinfecting听equipment and surfaces between uses.
Gyms should provide听disinfectant wipes so听their staff and听gym users can clean shared equipment听both听before听and听after听use.听听
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Maintain a safe distance from others:听6-feet.
Here鈥檚 why:听We go to the gym to exert ourselves, and听exertion leads听to increased rate and depth of breathing--and听the听generation of more respiratory droplets听and听shortness of breath听(perhaps leading to greater likelihood of mask removal).听听
If you have a choice from among group classes,听one-on-one training, and using gym equipment, know that the听group class听option likely presents the greatest risk, especially if you鈥檙e participating in a high-intensity workout.听听
If there are floor markers and partitions to remind patrons to keep their distance, respect them.听听
If you see something, say something.
Tell gym staff if you see patrons not adhering to safety recommendations.听听Don鈥檛 let them ruin it for others.听