Bhubaneswar: Following a five-month hiatus, gyms in the capital city are all set to open, August 5. However, health experts in the city have called the decision premature owing to the risk of spread of infection in confined spaces.
Following the detection of the first Coronavirus case of the state in the capital city, the gyms were asked by the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to shutdown, March 17. However, acting upon the central government’s guidelines, the BMC, August 2 allowed operation of the same from August 5.
“At a time when about 100 new COVID-19 cases are being detected in Bhubaneswar daily and the total tally has reached about 3,000, the BMC is opening gyms and yoga centres. This is not only premature but also dangerous. Studies have shown that prolonged exposure in closed spaces with poor ventilation facilitates virus’ spread,” said Madhu Behera, an infectious disease expert.
Behera also cited examples of the earlier COVID cases in one of the cruise ship ‘Diamond Princess’ in Japan and clusters that had their origin in churches in South Korea and Singapore. “Studies show that heavy breathing in close proximity such as cheering at clubs, having conversations in bars, and exercising in gymnasiums were results of these clusters,” she added.
Moreover, recent admissions by the World Health Organization (WHO) that ‘possibility COVID being airborne’ has also raised doubts of re-opening of gyms. Furthermore, in addition to being closed spaces with poor ventilation, increased spread of the virus through droplets and aerosols emitted during huffing and puffing in gyms is also said to pose a serious challenge.
“But the WHO also recommends 30 minutes of exercise daily for better immunity,” retorts Abhishek Sahoo, a fitness trainer here. “Aerobic activity should be performed in bouts of at least 10 minutes duration. Adults are also advised to increase their moderate to intense aerobic physical activity to 300 minutes per week. Although much of the exercises can be done at home too, working out in gyms in the controlled and hygienic environment shouldn’t be a problem,” he added.
However, a case study on 112 persons in Cheonan city of South Korea found positive of COVID-19 revealed that people were involved in intense aerobic exercises in 12 sports. Published in the Journal of Emerging Infectious Disease, the report said, “intense physical exercise in densely populated sports facilities could increase the risk for infection.”
Facing heavy losses, the gym owners, however, welcomed the move. “We had a detailed meet and have decided to revise certain conditions at our gyms,” stated Ashish Rout, Manager of Bhubaneswar Health Club here. “Regular sanitisation of equipment and machines will be done. Customers are asked to bring their own mats. Since working out with masks is not possible we have asked them to wear face shields,” he added.
Aviral Mishra, OP