Going to the gym – medium risk
How safe you are at the gym pretty much depends on how big the gym is and if it’s limiting how many members are allowed in at the same time. One other important aspect is that most people will not wear masks while training, which means asymptomatic carriers will release droplets into the air and infect other people.
“Gyms are very well ventilated, but we do know how far this virus can spread. So, if you are in a gym and you’re doing a vigorous workout, you’re breathing hard, someone near you might cough. There’s a lot of potential for aerosolization of things that in an outdoor setting is much less problematic since the particles disperse very quickly in the open air,” said Kesh.
How to lower the risk:
Opt for a less crowded gym and make sure you disinfect the equipment before and after every use. “People need to be much more spaced out and there needs to be good air ventilation and good air conditioning. All of these places that are indoors need to stay on top of changing their AC filters, make sure they have a good HVAC system, have good exhaust fans in the bathrooms and the other places where we’ve seen the potential for transmission. So if we do all of those things the right way, the gym can be a low to medium risk area,” said Kesh says. “For my own patients, I recommend that they head outdoors, especially as it is warmer,” she added.
