Are Gyms Dead?

Currently by order of the Governor of Virginia, gyms and fitness centers are closed in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. But given what the world currently knows about COVID-19, will gyms ever be the same again? As shown in the Newsleader, many area gyms are feeling the impact financially of not allowing users use their equipment. Many gyms are, the article says, “holding zoom classes, rending equipment out, lowering the cost of memberships and more.”

CNBC reporting says COVID-19 “is believed to spread through inhaling respiratory droplets that are released when an infected person sneezes or coughs, or from touching an infected surface and then touching your eyes, nose or mouth.” In a humid environment, such as a gym with many people working out in a confined area, gyms are “high prevalence areas” according to reporting from Sky News. Not only is the environment high in humidity, but you are often less than 6 feet away from others working out at a gym, and most times when at high exertion levels you will be drawing in more air than normal, and expelling more droplets than normal.

Ready for a Private Gym?

We are not claiming that we have solved the gym-goers COVID-19 problem, but when you schedule a time slot at Newtown Fitness Club, you have the space to yourself. The location has a high volume HVAC solution that was designed for a coffee shop and laundromat business originally in the location which means that humidity is at a bare minimum. There is no-one else around that is expelling droplets near you at an elevated rate through sneezing or coughing.

Obviously this will not protect you from someone sneezing on the equipment, but our Code of Conduct explicitly states that equipment must be sanitized at the end of the session, and we clean surfaces daily.

In this time, the personal gym rental model makes a ton of sense. If you are interested, register for free with us, and come check out the space. In our opinion, this model is a much safer alternative to the large scale gyms of the past.

References

1. April 30, 2020, newsleader.com Area fitness studios, gyms are feeling the economic impact of COVID-19. How they’re surviving — or not?
2. March 6, 2020, cnbc.com Is it safe to go to the gym?
3. March 13, 2020, today.com As coronavirus spreads, is it safe to go to the gym?
4. March 14, 2020, news.sky.com Coronavirus: Gyms ‘high-risk’ locations for spreading COVID-19, experts warn
5. March 3, 2020, usatoday.com SoulCycle reduces class sizes by 50% amid coronavirus; Here’s how to stay healthy at gyms