The coronavirus pandemic is really starting to impact Australian life, leaving some of us wondering if it’ll impact our gym routines and others wondering if this is an excuse to skip leg day.
After the government advised against unnecessary travel and large gatherings, people have been questioning whether they’re allowed to hit the squat rack without fear of contracting COVID-19.
In an interview on ABC Insiders, Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy assured gym junkies that they don’t need to skip leg day in fear of contracting the coronavirus.
“I think the gym is fine, but everybody needs to practice good hygiene,” he said. “If you’re going to the gym, I would be very focused on hand washing using hand sanitisers. All of those social distancing and good hygiene measures.”
“We want everybody in the community to start practising those and to start thinking about how we will practice social distancing moving forward.”
Similarly, physician and journalist Dr Norman Swan told ABC he is still going to the gym, and thinks Australians can do the same, but warns they should be extra vigilant about hygiene.
“[The outbreak] doesn’t mean you stop going to the gym, but it means you’ve got to be super careful in the gym. So you’re going to wipe [things] down [there] with an alcohol hand sanitiser,” the doctor told ABC.
“I’m still going to the gym, but I’m wiping down before and after. I’m using hand sanitiser and taking no chances in the gym… there’s so much sweat and wetness.”
Many gyms have already altered their regular schedules to align with social distancing practices, with classes being halved to reduce the risk of spreading.
However, Dr Swan warned that you should probably stay away from the steam room and sauna for the time being, because the effects of heat on coronavirus are currently unknown. And also, who the hell wants to sit in a sweaty room anyways?
So basically, you’ve just gotta not be an absolute grot at the gym (which should already be a given) and you’re fine to keep working on your booty gains for the time being.
