When it comes to concerns about COVID-19 in health clubs, initial research suggests these are far outweighed by the benefits of physical activity.
It’s time for you to take a fresh look at the steps needed to maintain your health.
We all know of the terrible toll of COVID-19, and health officials have been vigilant in ordering steps to reduce its spread. But the effects of the pandemic – just as surely as the virus itself – are also taking a toll. It should be a surprise to no one that the incidence of mental illness has spiked as workers have lost their jobs, parents have had to cope with shuttered schools, and everyone has faced unprecedented uncertainty. In ordinary times, mental health experts estimate that about 20% of Americans suffer from some kind of mental illness. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study this summer found that the incidence has doubled this year. Its survey found that 2 out of 5 Americans report at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition related to the pandemic.
Those who work on the front lines have seen the hard evidence. Agencies that operate suicide crisis lines report that callers expressing serious mental health concerns have doubled this summer. The evidence tells us that this is a time when we must be attentive to our mental health. And the science tells us that there is one effective, readily accessible therapy to maintain good mental health and treat many forms of mental illness: physical activity!
Health and fitness clubs have long been the places where millions of us work off stress. Fitness is essential for the health of our bodies and minds.
National Study Confirms It’s Safe to Work Out At the Gym: Current Data Shows No Evidence of COVID-19 Spread in Gyms
Of More than 49.4 Million Health Club Visits, Only 0.0023 Percent Tested Positive for COVID-19 – More than 500 Times Less than the Current Estimated U.S. National Average.
No government data has shown that health clubs have contributed to the spread of COVID-19.
Studies have shown, however, that exercise boosts the immune system and reduces obesity, a condition that can cause complications for those who can become infected with COVID-19, among other diseases. And with the right precautions in place, it’s possible to enjoy those benefits of fitness, safely. In Illinois Governor Pritzker has announced that gyms can be open with strict conditions on their operations: Gyms are limited to 50% capacity, everyone must wear a mask. Similar to our fitness industry colleagues, Sky Fitness has implemented even more stringent health and safety standards in our club. We offer touchless check in to the club utilizing our free app. Our equipment is cleaned during and after every fitness associate’s shift. We mandate that everyone – club members and our own team members – wear masks and maintain social distancing. Employees receive temperature checks daily. Many of our amenities including saunas, steam rooms and whirlpools are temporarily closed. It is clear; our mental and physical health needs demand it. Our policies demonstrate that Sky fitness can set health and safety standards that well exceed those of businesses in other industries that continue to operate. It’s time to take control of your physical and mental health…We will see you at the club!
