Should You Avoid the Gym During the Corona virus Outbreak?

​As corona virus —and related anxiety has burst across the globe , many people are looking at exercise with new eyes. Typically a pillar of health and wellness, the gym in the age of corona virus seems to many like a petri dish of contagion.

But do gym-goers actually need to worry about their daily workout? The short answer is no.  “The gym is not a place that’s necessarily riskier than other communal areas.” “I wouldn’t say there’s anything particular about people sweating that makes them more contagious.”

People tend to worry about communal places and objects because they fear coming into contact, directly or indirectly, with someone who can get them sick. Viruses that cause illnesses such as COVID-19 and the seasonal flu are often spread via direct exposure to respiratory droplets expelled in the sneezes or coughs of a sick person, but they can also live on surfaces and inanimate objects for days at a time.  It’s logical to think that the more people who touch shared objects—like, say, weights and cardio machines—the higher the risk that someone could leave behind a virus, potentially passing it on to others.

But this type of surface contamination has not been of much worry . “Transmission of corona virus occurs much more commonly through respiratory droplets than through contact with contaminated surfaces.”  And while mass gatherings are a point of concern, there is evidence that people may overestimate the likelihood of disease spread in shared spaces. For example, one study estimated that, if a flu pandemic hit any city, only 4% of influenza transmissions would occur on the subway—even though that’s a place that inspires germ panic for many.

Plus, gyms already follow practices like regularly disinfecting their facilities and encouraging members to wipe down equipment after use, which should be effective at preventing spread of SARS-Cov-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Washing your hands after using shared equipment or spending time in a crowded space can also reduce your risk of getting sick.

Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. 

Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.

There’s no need to avoid the gym if you’re worried about.

However, it’s worth taking the same precautionary measures.

If you’re still worried, there are things you can do to 

​There are various things you can do in the gym to help the limit the spread  of germs.

​Few things to keep in mind:

1. Wipe down mats,weights and machines with a disinfectant wipe both before and after using them.

2. Lay a towel down over a mat before lying don on it yourself.

3. It may be obvious, but washing your hands thoroughly before and after working out s the most effective.

4. If you do have to cough,try and catch it in a tissue,your shirt or crease of your elbow.

5.Avoid touching your nose,mouth and eyes.

Ultimately, though, you don’t need to feel put off working out as a result of the corona virus, but taking extra precautions can’t hurt.

​5. Carry gloves along with you and wear before using any equipment.