Don’t close gyms, make them safer, gym-goer says
Woman part of Hamilton SpinCo outbreak, but says she wants it to stay open
Julia Smith has had difficulty breathing, body aches and “unbelievable” sinus pain ever since she caught COVID-19 at Hamilton’s SpinCo spin studio two weeks ago.
Despite all that, she says she has no regrets.
It’s important to keep gyms open for people’s mental health, she says.
But with fitness centres already closed temporarily in Toronto, Ottawa and Peel — Ontario’s COVID “hot spots” — and the province reviewing guidelines for gyms, the threat of broader closures looms large.
Some gyms are already taking action, hoping to pre-empt possible outbreaks like the one at SpinCo — which hit 72 cases on Thursday — and stay open as long as possible throughout the pandemic’s second wave.
Locally, the YMCA is making such moves. Come Friday, all YMCA of Hamilton-Burlington- Brantford members will be required to wear masks at all times while working out in their Hamilton, Flamborough and Burlington facilities — no exceptions allowed, said spokesperson Kyla Kumar.
Instead, Kumar said the facility will point those hoping to exercise without a mask to alternative options including swimming in their pools — where masks aren’t required — or participating in their online YMCA options.
“We know this is a challenging time and it’s really difficult for some people that have diagnosed medical conditions,” she said.
Kumar said the change in policy was spurred by the recent increase in cases in both Halton and Hamilton, as well as comments from Dr. Elizabeth Richardson, Hamilton’s medical officer of health, regarding the SpinCo outbreak.
In the city’s Tuesday COVID-19 update, Richardson suggested wearing masks as an early recommendation for SpinCo once they reopen. The studio was following all existing guidelines, she has said numerous times.
Smith isn’t sure mandating masks is the answer; SpinCo’s classes are so intense people might pass out if fabric is covering their mouth and nose, and she questions if a mask soaked in sweat effectively limits COVID spread.
But she would be in favour of additional safety measures, such as Plexiglas barriers between riders and around the instructor or, really, anything that would help keep the studio open.
Despite falling so ill she’s spent most of the past two weeks in bed, Smith, 53, is a huge proponent of SpinCo. She credits the studio with keeping her physically and mentally fit after a long and difficult two years that included a marital split, a move and, of course, a lockdown and pandemic.
As of Thursday, there are 196 active cases of COVID-19 in Hamilton and another 233 in Halton, according to the respective health units.
Kumar said the YMCA “landed” on the mask policy as a good next step. “We came together and said, ‘We have a responsibility as a neighbour given the work we do and our mission at the Y to support healthy communities,’” she said.
When asked about the YMCA’s rule change Thursday, Ontario associate medical officer of health Dr. Barbara Yaffe said she thinks it’s “probably a good idea,” but facilities may want to consult with the province “on the details.”
As for Smith, Wednesday marked a turning point in her COVID-19 battle — she’s finally feeling better, despite a persistent cough. Would she return to SpinCo? “In a heartbeat,” she said.