With Conn. gyms open, patrons must weigh risks

DANBURY — For some, it has been a while since they visited a gym. Heavy breathing, sweat and shared weights did not pair well with an infectious airborne virus like COVID-19.

So, for much of the pandemic, at-home workouts and long walks had to suffice.

But several Danbury-area gyms have re-opened since last March, amending their cleaning procedures and instating social-distancing guidelines to try to mitigate the spread of the virus while people work out.

“We have a very lengthy playbook surrounding virus comprehensive cleaning methods,” said Mike Shapiro, vice president of Connecticut operations for Planet Fitness.

Planet Fitness, which has 34 locations across the state including Danbury, has implemented new social distancing requirements and gym policies that they’re using to try to keep people safe. This includes everything from required masks, to nightly electrostatic spray cleanings, to an app that shows real-time capacity and frequent staff walkthroughs.

However, doctors say going to the gym is still risking exposure to the virus.

“Would I go to a gym right now? Probably not,” said Dr. Karl Minges, assistant professor and chair of the Department of Health Administration and Policy at the University of New Haven.

Minges said going to the gym involves a risk calculation that people have to make for themselves. He compared it to going to a movie theater, where you’re sitting in an enclosed space for a significant period of time, but with more exhaling and thus, more of a risk.

“In terms of the droplet risk, of contamination, it probably would be similar to being in a chorus or something, where even if it’s masked, you’re just exhaling a lot,” he said.

But there are steps gym patrons can take to mitigate their risk, Minges said.

He urged proactive knowledge of the gym’s procedure and set-up for those heading back — ensuring it is a wellventilated structure, with spaced out machines and a thorough and frequent cleaning policy. He suggested going during off-hours, or right after a deep-clean, and inquiring about mask enforcement procedure before you go.

On a cold Tuesday morning at The Edge Fitness Clubs in Danbury, 53 patrons were working out in the gym built to fit about 389. Staff patrol the area every five to 10 minutes, and warnings — sometimes even permanent expulsions— are handed out for those not complying with mask mandates.

Fitness manager Devin Christie said he’s had to cancel people’s memberships for not complying with guidelines.

“That’s the safest thing,” he said.

The last thing the gym wants is someone who breaks the rules coming back and doing the same thing in 30 days, he said.

“We’re very strict on this,” said Shapiro of mask-wearing at Planet Fitness clubs. Their staff also does routine walk-throughs and cleanings in 20-minute intervals to ensure patrons are abiding by their rules.

After closing in mid-March, Danbury’s Planet Fitness re-opened in June, and has since seen more than 2 million check-ins at its Connecticut locations.

Nationwide, the franchise has had more than 45 million check-ins since May 1. And Shapiro said they’re seeing steady increases in gym usage every month.

As of March 31, 2020, Planet Fitness boasted more than 15.5 million members and 2,039 stores in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Mexico and Australia, according to a first-quarter news release from last year.

At its re-opening, a poll found that 46 percent of Americans would be “very uncomfortable” going to the gym or an exercise class, with just 9 percent saying they felt “very comfortable.”

Another July poll from TD Ameritrade found 59 percent of people didn’t plan to renew a gym membership once the pandemic is over, with many citing cost as a primary factor.

Some gyms have had to get innovative in their approach to encourage memberships.