Two new CDC case studies have found that indoor group fitness classes in Honolulu and Chicago have directly led to outbreaks of COVID that have infected dozens of people – and the study authors caution that masks should be maintained whenever gyms reopen or people should continue opting for outdoor exercises.
Over the past year, business owners – and gym owners in particular – have publicly discussed with elected officials and / or openly disregarded pandemic health regulations, keeping gyms open. Keeping up with physical and mental health is important, they argued, and demanded to see scientific evidence that gyms are dangerous vectors for the spread of the coronavirus.
As the New York Times reports, the Center for Disease control has now published two case studies, one outside of Hawaii and one outside of Chicago, which provide compelling links between group exercise classes in particular and the easy diffusion of COVID-19 when the masks are not being used. The studies confirm what had already been reported by the CDC at the beginning of the pandemic about an outbreak in a group gym class in South Korea.
In the Chicago study, which looks at an outbreak that infected 55 of 81 people who attended group gym classes at a gym during a week in August, the researchers found that participants reported inconsistent mask use and class attendance. after experiencing COVID symptoms. Three surveyed participants participated in gym classes on the same day or one day after receiving a positive result on the COVID test, because they were not experiencing symptoms and were stupid.
These infections happened at a time when gym classes in Chicago were limited to 10 to 16 people, keeping six feet apart. However, gyms required masks to enter doors and temperature checks, but allowed people to remove the masks while exercising.
The Honolulu outbreak appears to be linked to a particular fitness trainer, and the case study examines the rate of infectiousness between a period of two days and several hours before the onset of symptoms. This 37-year-old trainer, referred to Trainer A, was found responsible for infecting 21 other people, including a second fitness trainer. Instructor A gave a yoga class to 28 people a little over two days before feeling bad, and nobody in the class tested positive for COVID. However, this instructor gave a spinning class the next day to 10 people, and another spinning class the next day to 10 people, six of which were the same as the previous 10. All 10 participants in the spinning class on the third day – the day the instructor felt tired and other symptoms about four hours after the class – ended up giving positive results to COVID, and everyone was in class without wearing a mask.
The researchers suggest that, in addition to inadequate ventilation and the lack of a mask policy, the instructor shouting commands while being highly infectious may also have contributed to infecting 10 out of 10 people in a class.
At the time of the outbreak, the Honolulu Star Advertiser reported that 17 cases had been linked to two gyms, and state epidemiologist Dr. Sarah Park released a statement saying that all indoor gyms “can be breeding grounds for all types of infections”. And she said: “It is imperative that all gyms follow the safety practices required by state and municipal governments. This includes adequate physical distance in training areas and group classes, wearing masks at all times, consistent and complete disinfection equipment and all surfaces. “This suggests that these academies did not comply with state regulations on the use of masks.
Gyms can probably operate with relative safety, with mask protocols, but for those who crave group exercise, these studies suggest that there are reasons to postpone or just do it outdoors. A limited study of gymgoers in Norway last spring suggested that no COVID infection was associated with gyms that practiced adequate distance, without masks, however, there was very little virus in Norway at the time.
“Nothing is 100 percent safe,” said Alex Larcom of the International Health Racquet and Sportsclub Association in an interview with the Times. “There is never a zero risk. But [health] clubs are not the main driver of the spread of COVID.
Larcom cites the irresponsibility of participants in fitness classes in Chicago, who were symptomatic or COVID-positive, and says: “Throughout society, we are counting on people who are sick or think they are sick to leave society.”
Obviously, the moral of the story here is that humans are stupid and will continue to be stupid, especially, but not just in America, so, until you get vaccinated, be careful with unmasked spin classes and the person who coughs two Stairmasters above.
Photo: Humphrey Muleba