Reopening NJ Gyms is not Safe: Dr. Stephanie Silvera Tells Why
Posted in: College News and Events
For a NJ.com article, Dr. Stephanie Silvera, Professor in the Public Health Department, told why the reopening of gyms in New Jersey is still not safe.
She explained, “Where people are working out, you’re breathing heavy. When you breathe heavy, you exhale more respiratory particles and they go further. Given what we know about aerosolized spread of the disease, it really makes gyms a higher risk activity, unfortunately.”
Regarding face masks, she added: “If people are wearing their face coverings over their nose and under their chin the whole time, that can reduce the risk quite a bit. But the probability of people doing that while on the treadmill? It can be done, I’ve seen people work out long with a mask, though it certainly makes it harder. But I don’t see people doing that.”
“We can say masks are mandatory, but they’re only really mandatory if there’s a consequence for not wearing the mask. Then the question is, who enforces that? And what does that mean? And is it going to be enforced across the board? Are we going to ask the gym employees to be the people who are calling the police to fine people,” Dr. Silvera noted. Even if masks are worn, Dr. Silvera says as people sweat, their masks become less effective. So, even masks don’t make gyms completely safe.