𝗜 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝘆𝗺, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜’𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗿𝘆 𝗴𝘆𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻’𝘁 𝗿𝗲-𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝘁

I’ve been asked by a few people what I think to gyms not being listed in England’s July 4th opening plan. Tbh, I’m still processing the complete u turn from “we must follow the science*” to “we don’t really care if SAGE disagrees, we’re opening up, reducing social distancing & giving up on briefings”. Reads a bit like abandonment down south, but maybe that’s just me. Anyway; May the odds ever be in your favour.

That aside, I’ve had a quick think & here’s my ‘personal but professional’ opinion...

I don’t mind that gyms won’t be opening fully as soon as everything else, in fact I think it’s sensible in many ways. Here are some reasons (science & business based) I feel like we either need more time & less cases to realistically be safe while we work out, or the industry needs more time to create better solutions.

1. When we exercise we breathe faster & harder - our forced expiration becomes well, more forced... Exposure science has shown pretty clearly that this throws any liquid droplets in that breathe much further than at rest....how’s that working when minimal social distancing has concomitantly been reduced? (This is where I actually mind pubs opening less than gyms).

2. Aircon & airflow. We think Covid enjoys cool environments. Gyms aircon systems will be awesome for creating that. Airflow in studios/gym floors differs depending on gym...we 100% need fresh air exchange but equally ventilation systems can act as carriers around buildings for airborne particulates like viruses, and create turbulent air circulation flows in places like studios that will literally ‘blow’ people’s expired air around, potentially for hours after they’re gone. No thanks.

3. The masks thing. What do you actually want to do or see happen here? Have you tried doing spin or HIIT with a face mask on? They’re horribly uncomfortable, mentally off-putting, a connection barrier, and when we’re already gasping they can prevent us getting enough air & promote hyperventilation, IMO serving as a health risk at intensity (for a face mask: a face covering is different). But, if you don’t wear one, are you happy for the people training 2m away (or maybe now less) to spray their breath all over you without? Lose lose.

4. Points of contact. Machines, equipment, rolling around on the floor while training...all combined with how much we tend to touch our faces when we get a sweat on. Not a great combo for maintaining contact surface hygiene. I still haven’t seen a gym that has found a solution for this I trust.

5. People don’t do what you ask them to. Put sanitizer stations out; do you think people will religiously use them? Ask people to clean kit; do you think they will without fail? Implement social distancing around equipment & communal areas; do you think everyone will actually respect it? I don’t.

6. Risk assessments. How do we do this for everyone, when we know some groups are much higher risk & the situation itself is changing constantly? This has impacts not only for individuals’ health & gym/Instructor insurance, for gym industry workers there’s also the Q of what to do if the personal risk assessment (which doesn’t yet exist?) says we can’t yet work because we’re in a more vulnerable population group? If the industry is opened in a blanket sweep you pull the rug out for these people to be able to successfully seek support if it’s simply not safe to return to work yet.

7. Variables. By opening up so many things at once, it’s going to be super hard to track which one part of it is responsible if we have a 2nd wave. So, with everything opening up just like that, if we have a 2nd wave, it’ll all just get shut down again after 6-8 weeks if that R number rockets. And that kind of economic double dip is what really will kill off minor & major players in the industry alike.

8. Track & trace. Same points as above really. If we actually had this working well, we’d have a much better chance. But we don’t, so...

I’m sure there’s more, but there’s my starter for 8. I realise in the industry we’re all mega frustrated, missing work & financially worried sick....but before we spit blood on social about how ridiculous it is & how it’s no different to being in the cinema or pub, maybe we need to look at the facts & consider whether it really, really, is the same. Let’s do re-opening right & responsibly rather than soon.

* still disheartened at how much the Govt manipulated “the science” to their own ends (someone also tell me what "the science" even means please), while hiding behind some of the countries finest scientists & medics (because scapegoats were definitely needed if it all went tits up).

#covid #riskmanagement #gyms #lockdowneasing #understandingrisk #sciencecommunication #scientist #fitnessprofessional