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Original poster

Would you go to a gym class if there is covid in your household?

94 replies

Sunshinedreaming2022 · 03/02/2022 12:34

Random question I know but I need someone else to make the decision for me. I have an exercise class this evening that I go to every week and had already been paid for. I’m triple jabbed and LFT negative. However Ds2 has had covid this week (tested + on Sunday, although negative today) and dd has also tested positive yesterday (she is rather poorly despite being double jabbed and having had covid 13 months ago). I usually do this class with dd, she has already cancelled her place but if I went I would probably have to explain her absence and although I do not have to isolate and am free to continue as per the gov guidance, I don’t want the instructor and other participants to judge me negatively.
So this is a more of how would you feel if you knew a member of your exercise class had a covid positive member of their household? Would you think they are irresponsible for attending or would you just accept that this is life now and we just have to get on with it.

YABU - do not go
YANBU - go and enjoy

OP posts:
teatime9999 · 03/02/2022 13:59

No, I wouldn't go, especially now when a lot of people are hoping not to catch covid before half-term. It would be really annoying and expensive to have to cancel a whole family holiday just because someone pre-symptomatic came to your exercise class. You can go for a run outside. Perhaps they'd be willing to refund you both since you have covid?

Nevilleslongbottom · 03/02/2022 14:03

Just returned to gym today after 7 days with DS with Covid. Lots of people asked me where I’d been and I said and they seemed surprised and they’d all carried on as normal when it was in their house.

Didn’t feel right to be going to me but I’m thinking perhaps I’m the mug? I think I’ll just do whatever I want from now on.

treeflowercat · 03/02/2022 14:15

I'd do a LFT beforehand... If negative, I'd go.

Yes, I may still have anyway, but we're long past the point of "doing everything we can to stop Covid", and only doing essential stuff "just in case." This is living with Covid...

Also, if you're ok to go to a sweaty gym, you're clearly made your peace with catching it.

treeflowercat · 03/02/2022 14:19

@teatime9999

No, I wouldn't go, especially now when a lot of people are hoping not to catch covid before half-term. It would be really annoying and expensive to have to cancel a whole family holiday just because someone pre-symptomatic came to your exercise class. You can go for a run outside. Perhaps they'd be willing to refund you both since you have covid?
Half-term isn't for a few weeks yet?! Also, if I was concerned about ruining a big event as a result of catching Covid, I'd expect to be one who stay home when i didn't have to be somewhere that I could easily catch it (like I did before Christmas).
treeflowercat · 03/02/2022 14:22

@Huckleberries73

yes, I would totally go.

Its paid for, covid is not going anywhere - we just have to get on with life.

Yes, we'll all live our lives normally eventually... Some people are more reticent and still acting like it was still 2020/21!
GeneLovesJezebel · 03/02/2022 14:22

I have been doing.

Okbutnotgreat · 03/02/2022 14:25

As long as you feel ok and presumably you’re doing regular LFTs then yes I’d go.

Original poster
Sunshinedreaming2022 · 03/02/2022 14:36

Wow a real mixed bag of replies. Thank you.

I’ve messaged the instructor and explained the situation, it’s inside with zero ventilation, but she says to come as it’s only me, her and 2 others (the very mumsnetty “niche hobby”). I’ll do a LTF half hour before going out and make sure I stay at a far corner to the others

OP posts:
RonMaelDancing · 03/02/2022 14:36

This is the advice for people with covid in their households. Most people are ignoring it, I'm not sure why.

"If your daily LFD test result is negative, it is likely that you were not infectious at the time the test was taken. To further reduce the chance of passing COVID-19 on to others, you are strongly advised to:

limit close contact with other people outside your household, especially in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces
work from home if you are able to
wear a face covering in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces and where you are in close contact with other people
limit contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19
follow the guidance on how to stay safe and help prevent the spread of COVID-19
If you are unable to take a daily LFD test then you are still strongly advised to follow this advice to reduce the chance of passing COVID-19 on to others.

Follow this advice until the household member who has COVID-19 reaches the end of their self-isolation period."

RonMaelDancing · 03/02/2022 14:38

Obviously going to a gym class is not limiting close contact with other people outside your household, so you should not go, OP.

I don't know why the instructor feels it's fine to ignore the other 2 people in the class and not protect them from exposure?

Blossom64265 · 03/02/2022 14:56

You might technically be allowed, but yes, if I found out you had positive household members and went to an optional activity where you breathed heavily, I would judge you harshly. I wouldn’t say a word to you, but we wouldn’t become friends.

I would say that I would leave the class if I found out, but the fact that this is technically allowed is one of the reasons I can’t go to exercises classes anymore.

treeflowercat · 03/02/2022 14:58

@Okbutnotgreat

As long as you feel ok and presumably you’re doing regular LFTs then yes I’d go.
Given the posts on other threads, I'm not sure why you'd presume anyone was regularly doing LFTs!
treeflowercat · 03/02/2022 14:59

By "anyone", I mean "everyone".

treeflowercat · 03/02/2022 15:02

@RonMaelDancing

This is the advice for people with covid in their households. Most people are ignoring it, I'm not sure why.

Presumably because we're all very likely to be exposed to Covid in the coming weeks, especially if we're going to things like gym classes, so what does self-imposed isolation for being a contact really achieve... And if it doesn't really achieve anything apart from the fact it's not you who is doing the transmitting, why be a martyr?

emmathedilemma · 03/02/2022 15:08

I wouldn't.

RonMaelDancing · 03/02/2022 15:08

treeflowercat following basic health precautions to protect others isn't 'being a martyr'.
Have you considered that the fact that people aren't following advice might be linked to the fact that we're all very likely to be exposed to covid?

Nobody mentioned self-imposed isolation, just not going to an entirely optional hobby where you breathe heavily in an enclosed space with no ventilation.

southlondoner02 · 03/02/2022 15:11

I had this recently. DP and DC tested positive. I decided to go for a run instead. I went out for shopping, saw friends outdoors etc but somehow the gym seemed unnecessary

NinaProudman2022 · 03/02/2022 15:12

In your situation I would only do what was absolutely necessary. I.E. going to work (if I had no flexibility to WFH) or go to school or out for groceries if I had none and couldn’t get a delivery and if I went out to any of these places I would wear a mask to protect others. I would knock any unnecessary socialising and exercise classes on the head and go for a brisk walk or run in a very quiet area if you feel you absolutely have to.

itssquidstella · 03/02/2022 15:15

I'd go. If you go to any supermarket or shop or even to work, you're probably surrounded by people who have positive family members.

Blubells · 03/02/2022 15:32

You don't have Covid. That's what the tests are for!

Blubells · 03/02/2022 15:33

AND your triple jabbed! You probably won't even catch it.

treeflowercat · 03/02/2022 15:35

@RonMaelDancing

Have you considered that the fact that people aren't following advice might be linked to the fact that we're all very likely to be exposed to covid?

I have... The idea that we would be able to stop Omicron from spreading simply by following Government advice in a society that's otherwise "open for business" when China can't seem to prevent outbreaks with its draconian measures is fanciful.

Thirtytimesround · 03/02/2022 15:38

Yabu. Whatever the ever-changing rules say, you’re definitely brewthing covid-tainted air for much of the day at home and therea high chance you might have it but not yet have tested positive. My friend had a sore throat, tested negative yesterday morning, went to work and breathed over customers at her cafe all day, then tested positive on her way home. The tests aren’t perfect.

If I were you I’d still go to outside events
/ indoor shops if needed (with a good tight mask on) but I would not go somewhere maskless, especially somewhere optional like a gym where people are breathing heavily and there is so little need.

Why not go for a solo jog outdoors instead?

gamerchick · 03/02/2022 15:40

My kid caught covid and I still went to the gym. What's the point of doing LFTs if you can't put them to good use.

Neither me and husband caught covid from kid while he had it.

Pootle40 · 03/02/2022 15:41

@lookforthesun

Yes I would. You don't have it.

If someone in my house had a cold, or the vomiting bug, or another illness I'd go if it wasn't me with the illness. Life has to return to normal.

This, you hit the nail on the head.
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