COVID-19: Is it safer to visit a coffee shop or a gym?

[Maple_Leaf]

Opinion | Is It Safer to Visit a Coffee Shop or a Gym? (Published 2020)

Some businesses, like some people, are “super-spreaders.”

www.nytimes.com

I'm disappointed that we are this far into the coronavirus pandemic and nobody seems to know how risky specific activities are. Is walking on the beach safer than exercising in a gym? How about eating on a patio vs. eating in a dining room? Is a spinning class riskier than yoga? Is loud talking and animated activity riskier than quiet reflection?

 

[silentg]

Outside dining is better than inside, until temps are in the 90s.

 

[Luanne]

Probably won't be doing either for awhile.

 

[elaine]

eating on a patio vs. eating in a dining room?

DH (in medical field) saw stats that outdoors was 18X safer than indoors. and so also likely that beach is also safer than indoor gym.

 

[b2bailey]

Reminds me of the ongoing debate I'm having with my daughter regarding travel. I have a trip to San Francisco Bay Area planned for early June. I am comfortable flying out of my local Palm Springs airport. She says I cannot see her and the boys unless I chose to drive there. I'm not comfortable driving alone for 8 hours, so will need to stay in a hotel one night. I'm looking at gas stops, food stops, and a otel stop.

I'm not really debating this with her. She holds the power. I probably wouldn't worry about not seeing her, but one of my grandsons (age 8) has expressed to me on phone and in a letter how much he misses me.I

I mentioned to DD that I was more frightened by the 200 cars in the Wal-Mart parking lot and the line of people waiting to go in. (I don't shop Wal-Mart so was only driving by.)

Maybe I won't visit her after all.

 

[Chrisky]

I would say outdoors is safer, but it also depends on how well people are physically distancing themselves.

 

[MrockStar]

Ultraviolet sun light kills viruses. Out side wins hands down for me and my family.

 

[Luanne]

Ultraviolet sun light kills viruses. Out side wins hands down for me and my family.

https://sites.nationalacademies.org...raviolet-light-kill-the-coronavirus/index.htm

 

[MrockStar]

https://sites.nationalacademies.org...raviolet-light-kill-the-coronavirus/index.htm

.

 

[Brett]

I'm voting safer to visit a coffee shop

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Ultraviolet sun light kills viruses. Out side wins hands down for me and my family.

I rarely sit in direct sunlight for a variety of reasons, so this only sort of helps me decide...

I think there are so many variables that its hard make accurate generalizations about which business are 'safe"

 

[Luanne]

https://sites.nationalacademies.org...raviolet-light-kill-the-coronavirus/index.htm

.

That's the same article I posted.

But here is another one that talks specifically about UV from sunlight.


https://www.health.com/condition/in...t-really-kill-covid-19-heres-what-doctors-say

 

[MrockStar]

That's the same article I posted.

But here is another one that talks specifically about UV from sunlight.


https://www.health.com/condition/in...t-really-kill-covid-19-heres-what-doctors-say

Thanks Luanne.

 

[Cornell]

@b2bailey i always love your comments. You are my kind of lady .

 

[Ken555]

Reminds me of the ongoing debate I'm having with my daughter regarding travel. I have a trip to San Francisco Bay Area planned for early June. I am comfortable flying out of my local Palm Springs airport. She says I cannot see her and the boys unless I chose to drive there. I'm not comfortable driving alone for 8 hours, so will need to stay in a hotel one night. I'm looking at gas stops, food stops, and a otel stop.

I'm not really debating this with her. She holds the power. I probably wouldn't worry about not seeing her, but one of my grandsons (age 8) has expressed to me on phone and in a letter how much he misses me.I

I mentioned to DD that I was more frightened by the 200 cars in the Wal-Mart parking lot and the line of people waiting to go in. (I don't shop Wal-Mart so was only driving by.)

Maybe I won't visit her after all.

Drive! The weather is great and traffic is (mostly) light. Go slowly and try to enjoy it. I’d just suggest planning your stops in advance and verify they’re open, especially the hotel.


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[dioxide45]

My only concern with a gym is that COVID is a respiratory virus. Most people, when working out at the gym have an elevated respiratory rate. So, if someone there happens to have the virus, your chances of catching it are higher. Everyone is breathing heavy, both the sick and the healthy. So, I think the chances of catching it at a gym grow exponentially. I am not sure the six-foot social distancing applies at a gym. Perhaps more like 15 feet. Who knows? Not enough research on it yet. I don't think it is about cleanliness of the machines as much as it is about respiratory rate. In a gym, you are pretty much breathing in the air I am breathing out. No different than at a coffee shop, only at a much higher volume.

 

[amycurl]

Really, it's all about
1)How close do you have to get to other people to do X activity
2)How long do you have to be close to other people to do X activity
3)How many people will have touched how many common surfaces before you touch them in order to do X activity

The less people, the further away they are, the less time you have to be around them, and the less you have to touch common surfaces, the safer the activity is.

It's like season 1 of The Good Place: Hell is other people. #spoileralert

 

[TravelTime]

My country club is starting outside exercise classes next week. They also expect to re-open the gym in mid-May. They mentioned re-opening the restaurant soon. I will probably do all of this when it is available. I am ready to go back to life.

 

[Luanne]

My gym shut down well before the stay at home order went into effect. They didn't want to be "that place" where people got sick. My trainer has been doing one on one classes at a local park, so I've been going to her two days a week.

The gym is not in a rush to open up, and I doubt it will be in the first, or even second wave of businesses that our governor will open. I've heard from my trainer that the owner of the gym is trying to figure out how he can open safely. There are members who aren't in a rush and may not come back even when it opens.

 

[Ken555]

My only concern with a gym is that COVID is a respiratory virus. Most people, when working out at the gym have an elevated respiratory rate. So, if someone there happens to have the virus, your chances of catching it are higher. Everyone is breathing heavy, both the sick and the healthy. So, I think the chances of catching it at a gym brow exponentially. I am not sure the six-foot social distancing applies at a gym. Perhaps more like 15 feet. Who knows? Not enough research on it yet. I don't think it is about cleanliness of the machines as much as it is about respiratory rate. In a gym, you are pretty much breathing in the air I am breathing out. No different than at a coffee shop, only at a much higher volume.

I give you credit for answering this question in detail. I assumed we all knew this, and have just been amazed at people wanting to go to the gym during a pandemic.

On a similar note, I spoke with a runner friend of mine who said the advice for runners is ~15 feet separation. Of course, she’s not running at all (in Manhattan) since she thinks it’s crazy to risk it when there are safer options.


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[klpca]

We were just talking about the gym. It's going to be awhile before I feel comfortable going there.

I don't usually go to coffee shops so that is less important to me but I agree with @dioxide45 about the reasons that the gym isn't safe, and compared to the gym I would think that the coffee shop is safer, but home is safest of all.

 

[Glynda]

Longish but interesting article: https://erinbromage.wixsite.com/cov...vcWfpeKSLnIKi-uZOC--lk_mBvPsSMIpf8c89ct0WPbvU

 

[bbodb1]

Well obviously the only correct answer is the outdoor coffee shop and gym!

 

[PrairieGirl]

Glynda, thank you for posting that article! Very informative. Hopefully lots will read it even though it is long.

 

[Maple_Leaf]

DH (in medical field) saw stats that outdoors was 18X safer than indoors. and so also likely that beach is also safer than indoor gym.

So...we've been told to stay indoors and not go outside. I know people who are afraid to go outside at all. And a big hissy fit was thrown in the media about beachgoers.