gym rats may want to burpee at home just a little longer

gym goers should remain at least six feet apart and wear masks while working out, even during high-intensity activities, according to a recent report by the centre for disease control.

a second report released by the cdc looked at a series out outbreaks in three gyms in hawaii during the summer of 2020. a fitness instructor tested positive for covid-19. before experiencing virus symptoms, the instructor taught classes at two different fitness studios after which 10 patrons — including a second fitness instructor — later tested for covid. the second fitness instructor taught several courses at a third gym before experiencing symptoms; 11 people who attended these training sessions later tested positive or began to feel symptoms of covid-19.

“i completely value gyms and physical activity, and understand the benefits from a physical health and mental health point of view,” says  jeffrey siegel , a professor of civil engineering at the university of toronto who specializes in air filtration and indoor air quality.

it’s not just siegel who has doubts. health canada also lists going out to “gyms and athletic studios” as high risk, alongside bars and nightclubs, casinos, crowded public transportation and large religious/cultural gatherings. because of the serious outcomes of covid-19 and how the virus spreads, gyms can be prime environments for transmission, siegel says. he acknowledges that every space is designed differently, but the very nature of exercising inside poses risk.

dr. nazeem muhajarine, professor of community health and epidemiology at the university of saskatchewan,  previously told healthing  that returning to a gym all comes down to a personal perception of risk.

other risk factors include shared equipment and loud talking — in some classes, an instructor may shout over music or the sound of equipment to be heard, or to motivate the people exercising.

not all spaces operate the same, and some workout classes are possibly even higher risk. an indoor spinning studio in hamilton, ont., was  linked to a covid-19 outbreak , even though the facility followed provincial health guidelines.

last november, research out of the university of saskatchewan  found that face masks don’t hinder breathing during exercise, meaning gyms could implement face covering rules in their spaces.

one permanent change that will make gyms and all indoor spaces safer in the future is better ventilation systems, siegel says.  multiple studies  have shown the importance of ventilation and air flow — especially when it comes to the spread of viruses.