Fitness fanatics have been urged to be extra vigilant when exercising as gyms have been identified as ‘high risk’ locations for coronavirus to spread.
For many people, a trip to the gym is part of daily life but with fears surrounding the spread of coronavirus escalating, it has become yet another source of concern.
As cases of Covid-19 continue to rise in the world, and potential social distancing on the horizon, just how safe is it to attend your regular spin class or yoga session?
Although there is no official statement yet issued concerning gyms, other medical experts and popular gym chains have been speaking about the risks and steps being taken to protect customers.
Speaking on the ABC’s Coronacast – a podcast dedicated to answering questions about the coronavirus – Dr. Norman Swan, a physician, and journalist, identified gyms as “high risk” locations for the disease to spread.
When asked how likely someone is to contract coronavirus in a gym, Swan said: “You have to say it is spreading and to say it is not [spreading] is burying your head in the sand.
“One of the high prevalence areas from some of the Chinese data are gyms.”
The medical expert continued by explaining that gyms are the perfect place for the virus to spread because they are often humid.
“Dampness is a bad thing for spreading germs so you want to swab those surfaces down,” he said.
‘It doesn’t mean you stop going to the gym but you’ve got to be super careful.”
Norman added that while there is no evidence of coronavirus being spread through sweat, transmission can occur if someone with the virus coughs or sneezes onto their hands and then touches surfaces, such as gym equipment.
Because of this, he suggested that hygiene standards must be increased during workouts.