To go to the gym as normal?

[GymMummyBunny]

I know they are seen as awash with germs but mine is pretty clean. I always wipe down the equipment well before and after using, especially where my hands are going to go, and wash hands as soon as I’ve finished.

I really don’t want to stop as I’m doing well losing weight and getting fitter, and exercise is good for the immune system anyway! I would need to stop going for months to avoid the virus.

AIBU? Slightly concerned about taking the virus home to family.

oh For Christ sake, the overwhelming risk is schools and work. Not the frigging gym. That is just pissing around the edges. Making people think they are doing something 😠

Why would someone do anything that might increase the risk of harm to themselves or to people they might come in contact with, however small the risk, unless it was really necessary? (Not forgetting that for many people risk of harm is actually risk to life.)

Going to work is necessary for many people. At the moment keeping the schools open is judged to be the best course of action. Getting food is necessary. Going to the gym or to the coffee shop is not. Don't do it.

I almost wish everyone would ignore Boris’s lame directions to not do these activities, to force his hand
Yes, teachers and pupils can decide they need to self isolate.

I'm astonished that people still think it might be okay to go to the gym in light of current guidance. I also saw a number of people in local cafes this morning. All of this probably brings us closer to a forced shutdown

Exactly. I have stopped going to the Gym because I'm trying to reduce social contact with others. We all should!!

@Subjectmatterexpert

The gym is one of the worst places to pick it up. And is one reason why it spread so quickly in Wuhan!

I’ve just frozen my membership for 2 months at a well known tennis loving gym. Apparently they have had hundreds of families cancelling/suspending membership this week.

@Dingoding Exercising has many, many benefits. People staying physically active will reduce the severity of this pandemic as its easier for the body to fight off infections. Not exercising (enough) and therefore being overweight / diabetic / suffering from high blood pressure and heart disease are the reasons why many are now classed as 'high risk' in the first place. Exercise also helps with mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. Unfortunately not everybody has the space to exercise in their own home (I don't think the downstairs neighbours would be impressed if someone was doing burpees in their upper floor apartment). For these people the gym is an important place.

I don't agree with the fact that the schools are open either, but that's out of our control.

We do have a choice though. Either we can say fuck it and give up - no point in doing anything - and carry on as if nothing was happening despite knowing that it's the wrong approach or we can try and do what we can, even if it's not that much. At least then when it all goes to hell, you can look yourself in the mirror and say that you did what you could personally.

Is it possible to take into account the type and popularity of a person's gym? If its busy with all treadmills, cycles etc occupied and queuing for for weight machines, classes in a small studio area then yes, avoidance might be sensible. However if a person goes to a gym in the early hours of the morning, its a big open space with a max of 10 other people there, no chance of being next to anyone on a cardio machine or passing within 3 feet of someone in the weights area, everything being wiped to within an inch of it's life including dumbbells - isn't that a very low risk and the person could be forgiven for weighing up the risks and still going to the gym for their own mental and physical health?

I'm an avid gym goer. I'm there 6 days a week - twice a day some days. And whilst I agree with some that the risk can be relatively low (lots of cleaning, avoiding busy times and classes) it's a risk that is completely avoidable. I will really miss my gym visits but I went for an outdoor run at lunchtime today.

TooGood

All good points. For me none of that is more important than an increased risk, however small, of infecting someone who could then die of the virus.

Utterly amazed that this is even a discussion point. If what the neighbours think is more important than other people's health, exercise in a big open space away from anyone else.

From another Thread;

Today 16:52 UtterlyPerfectCartoonGiraffe

How is schools staying open supposed to work? I’m a teacher, and this morning had a student with a cough and high temperature. I talked them through the guidance about staying at home, but they refused to go to the medical room. We’d just had a meeting telling us we can’t diagnose the students or tell them what to do. So I sat in a room with them for an hour. Some kids were sent home ill, and us teachers were reporting any who were coughing but not going home. But what can we do? I can’t drag a 15 year old out of my classroom, and I can’t go against the school guidance that tells me I can’t tell them to go home. I’m just stuck with anyone who’s sick. Then I’m taking that home to my family. Doesn’t matter if I don’t go to the shops or a bar, because I can’t escape it at work.

I work with teachers who are carers for elderly parents who are so scared and stressed that there’s no protection for us. Teachers with underlying conditions and there’s no protection for us.

How is this supposed to work??

Unfortunately not everybody has the space to exercise in their own home

Most people can do sit ups, use bottles as weights, do squats etc at home and go for a run outside. Much safer than going to a potentially virus infested damp gym!

I hadn't thought about possibly suspending my membership, good idea.

I teach classes. One place has already closed. Personally I'm all for them closing despite the fact I am self-employed so will have no income. Gyms are always full of germs even before this COVID 19 crisis but this is unprecedented and it is a non-essential pursuit. It is impossible to thoroughly clean all equipment and your hands are dirty just touching the spray bottle that everyone else is using.

Unbelievable! How are they even open? That is incredibly stupid. Are you all asleep?

Is it possible to take into account the type and popularity of a person's gym? If its busy with all treadmills, cycles etc occupied and queuing for for weight machines, classes in a small studio area then yes, avoidance might be sensible. However if a person goes to a gym in the early hours of the morning, its a big open space with a max of 10 other people there, no chance of being next to anyone on a cardio machine or passing within 3 feet of someone in the weights area, everything being wiped to within an inch of it's life including dumbbells - isn't that a very low risk and the person could be forgiven for weighing up the risks and still going to the gym for their own mental and physical health?

Are you serious? Do you genuinely think that anybody at Public Health England has the time or the inclination to release a detailed set of guidelines covering spacing of gym machines, maximum people in the gym at any one time, attendance patterns and frequency of wiping of equipment just so that you can carry on training against explicit government advice?

You do, don’t you? Do you also think that a Public Health England should station an expert in every gym in Britain to monitor adherence?

Go for a walk or a run, for Christ’s sake. It’s not all about you.

My local council gyms have all been shut as from close of business today. I went this morning

Also, the last thing anybody needs at a time like this is people bleating, “the guidelines can’t apply to me because I am a special case due to my anxieteeeeee me me me”.

Thank God people didn’t behave like that during WW2.

I'm not sure why people can't run walk or cycle outdoors? Gyms are not essential to fitness. Use your brain, get fresh air

Its pissing with rain here so no thanks!

And I dont own a bike

Crowded, sweaty places are not a good idea. One of the cases in my area has been traced to the local gym

Soooo... Rain stops activity but a pandemic doesn't? Fancy

I've never gone running and I'm not starting to in the rain

We don’t care about your exercise regime, whether you have ever run before or whether you like the rain. Do you think that we should be campaigning for your local council gym to reopen because the alternatives are not to your liking?