Weights at the gym
Amid the coronavirus outbreak, more and more people are wondering if it’s really safe to go to the gym. Some cities and states, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, New Jersey have already answered that question for its residents, instructing gyms to close to maximize social distancing and prevent the spread of the virus.
That’s because it’s possible for the novel virus to spread in gyms, given that people are in close quarters and share equipment. “You have lots of people coming and using shared equipment. When you work out, you often are rubbing your face and nose to get the sweat off and then touching the handlebars — that would be a great way for someone to potentially share the virus,” said Dr. Michael Ison, an infectious disease physician at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago.
Although there’s no conclusive evidence that it can spread through sweat, sick people might still sneeze and cough in the locker room. “The bigger issue is that you have to change in the shared locker rooms, and people are often touching the mouth, nose and face and then maybe touching the lockers,” he added.
Another thing that makes gyms risky is that they’re typically humid, which makes them a suitable environment for viruses to spread.
Business Insider senior lifestyle reporter Rachel Hosie advised people who still go to the gym to wipe down the mats, weights and equipment before using them. More than that, she says it’s important to cover the mat with a towel before lying down, always wash your hands before and after you train and if you need to cough, try to do it in a tissue, your elbow, or your shirt.
2 thoughts on “8 Ordinary Objects You Should Avoid Touching During Coronavirus Outbreak”
thanks for the good advice
Most of these, I already knew. I get very upset when I have to sign for a transaction with the special pen provided with the machine. The drug department at Price Chopper is the only place that offers hand sanitation lotion on the counter by that machine. Not so in the grocery department. I try to have my own bottle handy to use right away when submitting a check or using a credit card.
I am working at the polls this next presidential election and for the first time, we will be using the electronic signatures. How we are to work with the pen is that each worker keeps their own pen. The one to be used by the voters is to sanitized after each use. That could be another option for the stores, banks, etc.