So many people, while eager to resume normal activities after months stuck in the house due to COVID-19, fear hitting the gym the same way they did pre-pandemic. There is a new fear that we all have with us everywhere we go these days. Nothing is more critical than safeguarding ourselves and loved ones against this virus. Gyms see a lot of faces, all of whom share equipment and other gym items and accessories. The CDC warns us that COVID-19 spreads from such situations. So is visiting the gym safe? Most of us agree that we’d rather stay at home than develop a case of coronavirus.
Gyms reopened amidst the pandemic several weeks ago. As with other businesses and industries affected by the pandemic, gyms have adjusted their ‘new norm’ to accommodate members ready to get fit and maintain the safety of each person. Gyms that take the time to adhere to recommendations from both the state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) keep members safe.
Many well-maintained gyms in Tucson and other major cities are taking extra thorough precautions against COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. In the weeks since the gyms first reopened, a lack of an outbreak is promising.
COVID-19 Gym Safety Tips
A few additional precautions can help you head back to the gym with confidence in your health and safety.
- Don’t do what everyone else does. Consider the risks to your health. Are you healthy enough to be inside a gym? Assess the risks to your health before visiting the gym.
- Check current COVID-19 outbreaks in the area before heading to the gym. The national and local news, phone apps, and newspapers collect and share this information each day.
- Wear a mask at the gym. Sure, you’ll get hotter and sweat a little more, but it’s all a part of the new norm and keeping yourself and other gym members safe.
- Practice good hygiene while working out at the gym. Bring along your hand sanitizer and a pack of sanitizing wipes to disinfect equipment before each use.
- Maintain social distancing of at least six-foot. Most gyms have markers in place to better help customers maintain safe distances from other people.
- Choose a gym that limits the number of occupants inside the facility at one time. A maximum of 10 people inside larger gyms and five people inside a smaller gym helps prevent the spread of COVID-19. Be sure to maintain a six-foot distance from other people at the gym.
Don’t let your guard down, but don’t miss the physical fitness that you love and that your body needs. Visiting a gym that follows guidelines and protocols for COVID-19 is safe. It’s a great way to get out of the house. Keep the above information in mind during your gym visits. We’re all in this together, even at the gym!
The short answer is yes, visiting a gym is entirely safe if the gym does their part to keep members safe.