Gyms want to beef up numbers

WHILE fitness enthusiasts rushed back to gyms and personal trainers began to work again this week, gym owners are fighting for the 50-people limit to be lifted.

Under level 2 regulations, gyms can welcome clients back inside to train, but a blanket limit of 50 people applies to all clubs, regardless of their size.

Mark Field, managing director of Virgin Active South Africa, said the 50-people limit was nonsensical because it doesn’t allow for the massive differences in sizes of gyms – 50 people could be dangerously packed into a small gym, or unnecessarily far spaced in a large facility.

Field was speaking in a webinar hosted by Discovery Vitality, in which doctors and leaders of the country’s fitness industry discussed the risk of returning to gym and what people can do to minimise their exposure during a sweat session.

“The challenge we’ve had is we were given a 50-person limit, which is not something the industry was consulted on,” Field said. “It’s clearly out of sync with what’s happening globally, so we clearly need to lobby hard to get a rational limit set for us.”

In terms of infection control measures, Virgin Active members wouldundergo screening before entering the club, have to abide by social distancing while in the club, and the entire club would be cleaned and sanitised repeatedly throughout the day, including all equipment.

Members have to use paper towels instead of their own sweat towels as moving a towel between equipment could spread the virus. Also, masks must be worn while training.

“There’s a fair amount of research that disproves any theories about too little oxygen or too much carbon dioxide because of wearing a mask. If you’re not feeling comfortable, drop your level of activity.”

Chief executive of Planet Fitness Manny Rivera is also strongly opposed to the 50 people limit, but said in the webinar that negotiations were progressing well for the limit to be changed.

“It’s not viable to have 50 people per club in terms of business,” he said. “We are in a good place with the government and we expect the limit to be lifted.”

Rivera said Planet Fitness plans to team up with other gyms and researchers to do their own study of Covid19 transmission within local gyms in order to prove their safety when protocols are followed.

“Gyms have been victimised in terms of being seen as a more dangerous place. There’s scientific fact that that’s not the case,” Rivera said. “You think you’re safer going to the supermarket, going to the casino? You’re safer with us.”

Infectious diseases expert Dr Jeremy Nel said that a cluster of infections had been seen as a result of exercise dance classes in South Korea – but that was likely because the classes had lots of people packed into a small space, and their high intensity demanded heavy breathing.

“The indoor group classes are probably the highest risk if people are not properly spaced out,” Nel said. “Bigger gyms with better ventilation or windows open may be better. Low intensity exercise classes like pilates seem lower risk than high intensity exercise classes.”

Ultimately, the risk at a gym is a direct reflection of its wider environment, said Nel.

“The risk in a gym is really strongly associated with the risk in the community,” Nel said. “If there are a lot of transmissions happening in the community in general, the risk in the gym is going to be high. As the case load declines, places become safer, and that includes gym.”

He advised people to take an honest look at their personal health before deciding to hit the gym.

“If you’re in a very high risk group, maybe don’t go to the gym at the moment, exercise outside rather.”