They have treatments now that they think can save as many as 1 in 3 people who previously would have died, and we are probably finding a greater percentage of the infections. But you saw the article from the weekend, right? About the health young Broadway actor who was in the hospital with COVID-19 for over 90 days before eventually dying of it. Deaths lag cases. Sometimes by quite a bit. Also, when the hospitals are overrun, deaths that might have been prevented with the right medical care will not be able to be prevented. So we should be careful not to be complacent just because deaths haven't risen very much yet. The people dying today may have been exposed 1-3 MONTHS ago.
wildrice , mala , any other MD people - anyone know current status on testing requirements? I thought I remembered hearing that the VEIP stations are allowing anyway and you don’t need a doctors order, but I can’t find anything that proves that. The one near me is no appointment needed, so there is that. The places up near where he is living these days won’t test unless you have symptoms or a doctors order.
I’m considering having H go at the end of this week. I know it’s not a guarantee, but we are supposed to go to the eastern shore a week from Thursday, and given we haven’t spent the night in the same bed since March... He shouldn’t be working after today. So in my head, a negative test on Friday should make it reasonably ok to spend some time together.
I’m also pondering my gym situation. They’ve reopened with max 10 per class (normally 30). Everyone gets an 8x8 square with weights waiting for you. There’s about 2’ in between each 8x8 square with a runway down the center of the room. We must wait outside until we are called in, one by one, for temperature and health screening. Then we sanitize hands and walk to our square on the runway, and change into gym shoes there (which are sanitized prior to use). We must also bring a yoga mat for floor exercises. They removed the fans to prevent droplet circulation (A/C still running). After class you leave one by one and the trainers sanitize everything. The classes are all HIIT format. Before this all happened I was going 5-6 days a week. I was considering going 1-2 times per week for the extra in-person push, and doing the remainder on zoom. Zoom classes are offered 7 days a week. I usually do 5. What would you do?
I've obviously been very careful, but I feel like compared to some on here I haven't been totally worried personally this whole time. As in I never wiped down my groceries, I always went to the grocery store myself and I always had to go to work. I've focused on wearing my mask, washing my hands and not touching my face. So with that said, nope, no way I'm returning to my fitness classes. That is one thing I'm going to be strict about. I am/was very active and did classes multiple days per week and was about to join another gym more specifically for the pool, but nope not worth the risk personally for me. I don't think temperature checks do much and I think the risk of spread is via droplets when you spend a prolonged time with people (more than 10 min), so sanitizing stuff really isn't the end all be all to preventing transmission as people are breathing hard, coughing, etc while working out.
Even with my areas numbers looking really good and the likelihood of the person next to me not having covid, if they opened up gyms right now I would not go and don't plan to go until there's more understanding about this virus/better treatment/vaccine.
I think everyone obviously has to figure out their own comfort level and risk vs benefit. I do plan to continue to visit my partner once a month which involves a 1.5 hour train ride, so prolonged time near people, but for me personally I'm willing to risk that, but not that gym.
Post by chickadee77 on Jul 6, 2020 15:42:11 GMT -5
I'm worried about work. We're in FL, in a hotspot, and my university is requiring 100% faculty and staff back on campus by Aug 10 (classes start the following week). They say we can continue to do our jobs the same way we currently are (via telephone/Zoom/other platforms), but must have butts in seats on campus. Why why why? I know we're being more cautious than a lot of people - we haven't really been out except to do some banking stuff since March. My H is pretty much, "Well, so you let them fire you and collect u/e. You are NOT going to a college campus." And I feel him, I do - I'm worried, too, but I also love my job (mostly). But then, God forbid, one or more of us gets it, and it's on ME? I'm still working on this conversation with him. Ugh. But I don't see a good way through - I mean, even if he does a 180, I still worry. Ugh ugh.
Post by Velar Fricative on Jul 6, 2020 15:45:28 GMT -5
I've been likening my "risk budget" to my WW points lol. Some behaviors and activities will cost me more "points" compared to others, but at the end of the day I have to consume some points. Socializing with just one other trustworthy, careful household? Not too many points. Going back to work (which I did starting last week on a part-time basis)? A few points but not terrible because I have my own office. Going for an outdoor dinner with one other trustworthy person in a restaurant taking great precautions? A few points. Attending a 100-person wedding, either indoors or outdoors? Well, there go all my points for the next week, time to hunker down for a while and/or get tested a few days later.
ETA: Obviously this is not relevant if you or someone you live with or want to socialize with is high-risk.
Velar Fricative, That has been our approach as well. We have to make some concessions either for economic or mental health reasons. My choices might not be the priorities of others. I can’t choose everything I did pre COVID. @@@ Like I said a page ago, giving my kids some social outlets is prob my top risk priority outside of like going to work. So in return I stay home from the gym.
Harvard has announced that all students will take online classes this coming academic year.
Freshman are invited to live on campus in the fall. Seniors are invited to live on campus in the spring. Students whose degrees require on campus research will be invited to live on campus, I believe.
Those who are on campus will be required to take a Covid-19 test once every three days.
To be honest, if I was an incoming international freshman, I would be very tempted to take a gap year now and deferring going until things are more clear.
wildrice , mala , any other MD people - anyone know current status on testing requirements? I thought I remembered hearing that the VEIP stations are allowing anyway and you don’t need a doctors order, but I can’t find anything that proves that. The one near me is no appointment needed, so there is that. The places up near where he is living these days won’t test unless you have symptoms or a doctors order.
I’m considering having H go at the end of this week. I know it’s not a guarantee, but we are supposed to go to the eastern shore a week from Thursday, and given we haven’t spent the night in the same bed since March... He shouldn’t be working after today. So in my head, a negative test on Friday should make it reasonably ok to spend some time together.
It looks like the VEIP station near where I live is allowing you to schedule an appointment without a doctor's order. I have no idea if you can easily get one, though. According to this site, doctors are required to allow you to be tested regardless of symptoms.
I have not had reason to have a test yet, so this is about the extent of my knowledge. My employer (state university) is doing on-site testing currently, which is opt-in and not required, but I haven't had to go to work.
I'm worried about work. We're in FL, in a hotspot, and my university is requiring 100% faculty and staff back on campus by Aug 10 (classes start the following week). They say we can continue to do our jobs the same way we currently are (via telephone/Zoom/other platforms), but must have butts in seats on campus. Why why why? I know we're being more cautious than a lot of people - we haven't really been out except to do some banking stuff since March. My H is pretty much, "Well, so you let them fire you and collect u/e. You are NOT going to a college campus." And I feel him, I do - I'm worried, too, but I also love my job (mostly). But then, God forbid, one or more of us gets it, and it's on ME? I'm still working on this conversation with him. Ugh. But I don't see a good way through - I mean, even if he does a 180, I still worry. Ugh ugh.
I’m not in FL but do work in a college in PA. It has been extremely frustrating as we were wfh until 3 weeks ago and then they pushed us into being on campus 2 1/2 days or more per week to space out staff. This past week students were allowed back for some hybrid classes and all student support services offices are supposed to be staffed full time. I wasn’t as worried when it was spaced out staff but now with students coming back my fear has increased significantly. During office hours last week a student needed to interact with me, did not have on a mask, and stood very close to me despite my instructions about distance and all the signs on campus about maintaining safe space. Honestly, unless you trust your university implicitly I would be nervous. Many Students are not reliable about following guidelines and being in large buildings with recirculated air is a terrible risk. Also our protocol seems to have gone out the window with students allowed back to campus.
Harvard has announced that all students will take online classes this coming academic year.
Freshman are invited to live on campus in the fall. Seniors are invited to live on campus in the spring. Students whose degrees require on campus research will be invited to live on campus, I believe.
Those who are on campus will be required to take a Covid-19 test once every three days.
Yeah, half of my MBA cohort is really freaking out about this. Such bullshit. Our campus has said they’ll offer a hybrid model, but not a lot of details on how it will work. And also, if people just aren’t comfortable doing in-person classes they shouldn’t be forced to to stay here.
The defense attorneys who work in the courthouse are concerned because the building is ripe for spread of the disease, both Nightingale and Daffner said.
“We all have multi-county practices. Are we unwittingly carrying this virus throughout the commonwealth?” Nightingale said. “We just want to be safe. We’ve got older lawyers at increased risk.”
Pittsburgh defense attorney Todd Hollis put it this way: “We are perfect carriers.”
“We meet a great number of people on a daily basis and we travel from county to county,” Hollis said.
He’s taking precautions, but those aren’t fail-safe, Hollis said.
“I’m terrified,” he said. “I’m terrified that contracting covid could be very detrimental to my health.”
wanderingback thanks; you confirmed what I was thinking. After I read everything I typed out, it was clear I was trying to convince myself of something I want so badly to be safe because I really hate working out at home and I miss my gym community. I think we are in the same general geographic area based on other posts. I’ll be heeding your advice and sticking with zoom.
I'm worried about work. We're in FL, in a hotspot, and my university is requiring 100% faculty and staff back on campus by Aug 10 (classes start the following week). They say we can continue to do our jobs the same way we currently are (via telephone/Zoom/other platforms), but must have butts in seats on campus. Why why why? I know we're being more cautious than a lot of people - we haven't really been out except to do some banking stuff since March. My H is pretty much, "Well, so you let them fire you and collect u/e. You are NOT going to a college campus." And I feel him, I do - I'm worried, too, but I also love my job (mostly). But then, God forbid, one or more of us gets it, and it's on ME? I'm still working on this conversation with him. Ugh. But I don't see a good way through - I mean, even if he does a 180, I still worry. Ugh ugh.
This would make me really mad. Every employee in every department?
I work at a university too, and we're really emphasizing that people should remain working from home if they can fully do their jobs from home. There will be some areas that need to be staffed with butts in seats in order to meet students and provide campus services, but even those should be staffed at a lower level (so instead of having 2 front desk people, they will rotate so only 1 has to be there at a time). It's not going to be a perfect system and I'm sure there will be departments that ask for face time for dumb reasons, but we're supposed to be able to request to WFH - and be approved - if we are not comfortable coming back AND can work from home effectively. Those who don't want to come back or can't WFH entirely will be allowed to use leave or make flexible arrangements to try to accommodate their needs.
I actually really do trust my employer, partly because I've been involved in a lot of the return to campus prep and work in HR so I get this info straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. I do think they are sincere in wanting to do everything to protect us and work with us to keep people off campus. Even so, students are wild cards. We have great policies in place but will they be followed? What if they are followed around staff/faculty but not privately? I am hopeful but skeptical. I also work in a position that will likely continue to be home, so I'm in a privileged position to be optimistic.
Honestly I would not quit your job because of your H's opinion, but because of their lack of regard for their employees. They have a moral obligation to keep their employees safe, IMO.
wildrice , mala , any other MD people - anyone know current status on testing requirements? I thought I remembered hearing that the VEIP stations are allowing anyway and you don’t need a doctors order, but I can’t find anything that proves that. The one near me is no appointment needed, so there is that. The places up near where he is living these days won’t test unless you have symptoms or a doctors order.
I’m considering having H go at the end of this week. I know it’s not a guarantee, but we are supposed to go to the eastern shore a week from Thursday, and given we haven’t spent the night in the same bed since March... He shouldn’t be working after today. So in my head, a negative test on Friday should make it reasonably ok to spend some time together.
Last I knew you needed a doc order, but it should be easy to get. Theres a good chance that has changed. I know if H is exposed at work *now* he can get tested no questions asked, no hoops to jump through (which is very different from his employer's attitude from May when he was exposed or March when he had stmptoms with a negative strep test.)
Edit: actually clicked your link. Sooo yeah, looks like you dont need a doc
Post by Velar Fricative on Jul 6, 2020 16:40:52 GMT -5
Not sure if people saw this since it was published on Friday, but it’s an interview with Fauci and other experts regarding the risks they themselves have been taking and not taking. So I feel good about how my household is doing.
Just a caution re: quitting and collecting unemployment. Generally, “refusing work” disqualified people from collecting UI and there is guidance out there (I believe from USDOL, but definitely from states) that refusing to go back to work due to Covid concerns is disqualifying unless you’ve a specific ADA accommodation the employer cannot or will not meet.
I've been likening my "risk budget" to my WW points lol. Some behaviors and activities will cost me more "points" compared to others, but at the end of the day I have to consume some points. Socializing with just one other trustworthy, careful household? Not too many points. Going back to work (which I did starting last week on a part-time basis)? A few points but not terrible because I have my own office. Going for an outdoor dinner with one other trustworthy person in a restaurant taking great precautions? A few points. Attending a 100-person wedding, either indoors or outdoors? Well, there go all my points for the next week, time to hunker down for a while and/or get tested a few days later.
ETA: Obviously this is not relevant if you or someone you live with or want to socialize with is high-risk.
Yeah, we have to go to DHs bosses wedding Aug 7. And it's doubtful our county will even mandate masks. They already cut it from 400 to 200 people. I would love to not go, but they just laid off 3 people as of July 1, and that has left them with 6 total. Mom, Dad, daughter (getting married), her bff's fiance, and the mom's bff. DH is the only expendable one left. We have to go.
I guess we could get tested the next day, since the urgent care near our house has a tent set up?
wanderingback thanks; you confirmed what I was thinking. After I read everything I typed out, it was clear I was trying to convince myself of something I want so badly to be safe because I really hate working out at home and I miss my gym community. I think we are in the same general geographic area based on other posts. I’ll be heeding your advice and sticking with zoom.
If you really want a more structured workout I think there are safer ways you could do it. A personal trainer outside/distanced or a boot camp style class with a small group/extra distanced would all be better than inside a gym.
I've been likening my "risk budget" to my WW points lol. Some behaviors and activities will cost me more "points" compared to others, but at the end of the day I have to consume some points. Socializing with just one other trustworthy, careful household? Not too many points. Going back to work (which I did starting last week on a part-time basis)? A few points but not terrible because I have my own office. Going for an outdoor dinner with one other trustworthy person in a restaurant taking great precautions? A few points. Attending a 100-person wedding, either indoors or outdoors? Well, there go all my points for the next week, time to hunker down for a while and/or get tested a few days later.
ETA: Obviously this is not relevant if you or someone you live with or want to socialize with is high-risk.
Yeah, we have to go to DHs bosses wedding Aug 7. And it's doubtful our county will even mandate masks. They already cut it from 400 to 200 people. I would love to not go, but they just laid off 3 people as of July 1, and that has left them with 6 total. Mom, Dad, daughter (getting married), her bff's fiance, and the mom's bff. DH is the only expendable one left. We have to go.
I guess we could get tested the next day, since the urgent care near our house has a tent set up?
I would come up with any plausible excuse possible for this. Last minute babysitter issue? Flooded laundry room? Food poising/upset stomach or an allergic reaction/hives (something obviously non-Covid)?
I get that he needs to keep his job, but that won’t do him a whole lot of good if you both get sick.
(And if you go, getting tested the next day won’t do you any good - you’d have to wait more like 4-5 days I think)
I've been likening my "risk budget" to my WW points lol. Some behaviors and activities will cost me more "points" compared to others, but at the end of the day I have to consume some points. Socializing with just one other trustworthy, careful household? Not too many points. Going back to work (which I did starting last week on a part-time basis)? A few points but not terrible because I have my own office. Going for an outdoor dinner with one other trustworthy person in a restaurant taking great precautions? A few points. Attending a 100-person wedding, either indoors or outdoors? Well, there go all my points for the next week, time to hunker down for a while and/or get tested a few days later.
ETA: Obviously this is not relevant if you or someone you live with or want to socialize with is high-risk.
Yeah, we have to go to DHs bosses wedding Aug 7. And it's doubtful our county will even mandate masks. They already cut it from 400 to 200 people. I would love to not go, but they just laid off 3 people as of July 1, and that has left them with 6 total. Mom, Dad, daughter (getting married), her bff's fiance, and the mom's bff. DH is the only expendable one left. We have to go.
I guess we could get tested the next day, since the urgent care near our house has a tent set up?
Why do you have to go? If your H absolutely has to go or he'll lose his job then I guess that's a risk he should take, but why do you have to go?
I'm worried about work. We're in FL, in a hotspot, and my university is requiring 100% faculty and staff back on campus by Aug 10 (classes start the following week). They say we can continue to do our jobs the same way we currently are (via telephone/Zoom/other platforms), but must have butts in seats on campus. Why why why? I know we're being more cautious than a lot of people - we haven't really been out except to do some banking stuff since March. My H is pretty much, "Well, so you let them fire you and collect u/e. You are NOT going to a college campus." And I feel him, I do - I'm worried, too, but I also love my job (mostly). But then, God forbid, one or more of us gets it, and it's on ME? I'm still working on this conversation with him. Ugh. But I don't see a good way through - I mean, even if he does a 180, I still worry. Ugh ugh.
This would make me really mad. Every employee in every department?
I work at a university too, and we're really emphasizing that people should remain working from home if they can fully do their jobs from home. There will be some areas that need to be staffed with butts in seats in order to meet students and provide campus services, but even those should be staffed at a lower level (so instead of having 2 front desk people, they will rotate so only 1 has to be there at a time). It's not going to be a perfect system and I'm sure there will be departments that ask for face time for dumb reasons, but we're supposed to be able to request to WFH - and be approved - if we are not comfortable coming back AND can work from home effectively. Those who don't want to come back or can't WFH entirely will be allowed to use leave or make flexible arrangements to try to accommodate their needs.
I actually really do trust my employer, partly because I've been involved in a lot of the return to campus prep and work in HR so I get this info straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. I do think they are sincere in wanting to do everything to protect us and work with us to keep people off campus. Even so, students are wild cards. We have great policies in place but will they be followed? What if they are followed around staff/faculty but not privately? I am hopeful but skeptical. I also work in a position that will likely continue to be home, so I'm in a privileged position to be optimistic.
Honestly I would not quit your job because of your H's opinion, but because of their lack of regard for their employees. They have a moral obligation to keep their employees safe, IMO.
Unfortunately, they have shown themselves to be... less than ethical in how they treat employees. So, I'm definitely worried on that front, as well. I think I'm actually on board with not going back because I know they don't have our backs - also, if we end up with remote school, I'llneedto be home for that, too.
They've done nothing in regard to encouraging social distancing other than putting up plexi in reception and increasing signage. I have a bad feeling as soon as we're back, it will quickly turn to, "Well, student success dictates you must see students face-to-face." Which is bs, at least in our office. We've actually been thriving as a team and at our jobs working remotely, and students are thrilled with our increased availability (our team is working wildly varied hours because we can, rather than traditional 8-5 M-F).
I'm a worrywart naturally. So this has been... not great, lol. A lot can happen in a month.
My parents and my sister's family live in Houston area. I am frustrated, because they all have been SO good all along about staying home, staying isolated, etc. But it is getting harder - there are things they need to do, like my mom needs an MRI and some other doctor appointments, my dad has something weird going on with dizziness that he really needs to get sorted out, my sister is going stir crazy being home 24/7 with 2 little kids and wants to see some friends from 6 feet apart, etc. But it turns out it would have been safer to do all that 2-3 months ago instead of now. I wish their cases weren't rising just when the fatigue and the inability to put everything off forever wasn't an issue. It really seems like Texas has done this backwards.
I feel this, but I also think it’s the opposite, at least where I am. Cases are going up BECAUSE of quarantine fatigue. We did everything right from the onset in California, where we had the first known community spread case and managed to shut things down pretty quickly (literally and figuratively).
Then counties, especially the red and purple ones, started to push Newsom to dial back restrictions and he did. And at first I was happy about it, because it felt like he was being very reasonable and moderate. And you’re absolutely right that people can’t put off things like MRIs and dental care forever (I feel that one HARD.)
But Newsom has blamed most of our climbing case counts on people gathering again, and I think this points to just how tricky it will be to get things anywhere close to “normal” again before we have a vaccine. I’m rooting for NY, NJ and CT to show us the way, but I’m also nervous.
ETA: FWIW, I think people who are cautiously opening up their bubbles and scheduling elective medical care and going to the beach are not the problem. It’s everyone who thinks we’re past this thing and if they just PRETEND things are normal, they will be.
Just a caution re: quitting and collecting unemployment. Generally, “refusing work” disqualified people from collecting UI and there is guidance out there (I believe from USDOL, but definitely from states) that refusing to go back to work due to Covid concerns is disqualifying unless you’ve a specific ADA accommodation the employer cannot or will not meet.
Thanks. I was thinking this, too, but good to have (sort of) confirmation. Though I wouldn't be refusing to work; just not working in their preferred location, ha. My guess is that wouldn't matter, though.
A woman who I work with was, apparently, diagnosed with COVID the middle of March. She mentioned nothing about it on social media and no message came out that someone had tested positive. She said that her only symptom was a fever. Prior to the shutdown she was ALL over the place, going out to eat, going to the gym, etc.. I only found out because she posted that she's donating plasma. It's been almost 4 months since she tested positive and she still has enough antibodies to donate convalescent plasma. It's just such a weird fucking virus. She barely got sick but has enough antibodies to donate so long after and other people don't?
I've been likening my "risk budget" to my WW points lol. Some behaviors and activities will cost me more "points" compared to others, but at the end of the day I have to consume some points. Socializing with just one other trustworthy, careful household? Not too many points. Going back to work (which I did starting last week on a part-time basis)? A few points but not terrible because I have my own office. Going for an outdoor dinner with one other trustworthy person in a restaurant taking great precautions? A few points. Attending a 100-person wedding, either indoors or outdoors? Well, there go all my points for the next week, time to hunker down for a while and/or get tested a few days later.
ETA: Obviously this is not relevant if you or someone you live with or want to socialize with is high-risk.
Yeah, we have to go to DHs bosses wedding Aug 7. And it's doubtful our county will even mandate masks. They already cut it from 400 to 200 people. I would love to not go, but they just laid off 3 people as of July 1, and that has left them with 6 total. Mom, Dad, daughter (getting married), her bff's fiance, and the mom's bff. DH is the only expendable one left. We have to go.
I guess we could get tested the next day, since the urgent care near our house has a tent set up?
Yeah, you’d need to wait a few days to get tested. Incubation period is 2-14 days with 50% of people having symptoms within 5 days and 95% of people having symptoms within 14 days.
My parents and my sister's family live in Houston area. I am frustrated, because they all have been SO good all along about staying home, staying isolated, etc. But it is getting harder - there are things they need to do, like my mom needs an MRI and some other doctor appointments, my dad has something weird going on with dizziness that he really needs to get sorted out, my sister is going stir crazy being home 24/7 with 2 little kids and wants to see some friends from 6 feet apart, etc. But it turns out it would have been safer to do all that 2-3 months ago instead of now. I wish their cases weren't rising just when the fatigue and the inability to put everything off forever wasn't an issue. It really seems like Texas has done this backwards.
I feel this, but I also think it’s the opposite, at least where I am. Cases are going up BECAUSE of quarantine fatigue. We did everything right from the onset in California, where we had the first known community spread case and managed to shut things down pretty quickly (literally and figuratively).
Then counties, especially the red and purple ones, started to push Newsom to dial back restrictions and he did. And at first I was happy about it, because it felt like he was being very reasonable and moderate. And you’re absolutely right that people can’t put off things like MRIs and dental care forever (I feel that one HARD.)
But Newsom has blamed most of our climbing case counts on people gathering again, and I think this points to just how tricky it will be to get things anywhere close to “normal” again before we have a vaccine. I’m rooting for NY, NJ and CT to show us the way, but I’m also nervous.
ETA: FWIW, I think people who are cautiously opening up their bubbles and scheduling elective medical care and going to the beach are not the problem. It’s everyone who thinks we’re past this thing and if they just PRETEND things are normal, they will be.
It's true, it's a fine line. I think Texas has suffered largely because they opened up quickly and didn't require masks. I wish they had put a mask policy in place immediately and allowed things like MRIs and doctor visits to happen without opening EVERYTHING up and letting people just carry on as normal.
My mom getting an MRI is definitely not going to be a reason for a spike in cases, but her health is fragile enough that I worry more about her exposure to others. They are trying to be careful in medical facilities so hopefully it's fine, but the chances of running into someone who is positive with COVID is much higher for her now than it would have been in April when it was originally scheduled. It pisses me off because it didn't have to be that way!
Post by susquehanna on Jul 6, 2020 17:58:26 GMT -5
We live in Pennsylvania and my sister got a mammogram almost as soon as the Commonwealth of PA permitted health care providers to restart providing services such as this. My sister was really nervous about it, but her doctor talked her into scheduling her appointment.
Our mom died of cancer less than two years ago, and my sister's father-in-law is dying of cancer right now. Neither of them died of breast cancer, but I think that these circumstances encouraged my sister to "take the risk." Fortunately, the results had a happy outcome for her and gave her some peace of mind.
It really sucks though that my sister had to chose between the lesser of two evils: 1.) potentially having cancer and not catching it in a timely manner, or 2.) potentially catching Covid at the medical office and giving it to her family.
I’m also pondering my gym situation. They’ve reopened with max 10 per class (normally 30). Everyone gets an 8x8 square with weights waiting for you. There’s about 2’ in between each 8x8 square with a runway down the center of the room. We must wait outside until we are called in, one by one, for temperature and health screening. Then we sanitize hands and walk to our square on the runway, and change into gym shoes there (which are sanitized prior to use). We must also bring a yoga mat for floor exercises. They removed the fans to prevent droplet circulation (A/C still running). After class you leave one by one and the trainers sanitize everything. The classes are all HIIT format. Before this all happened I was going 5-6 days a week. I was considering going 1-2 times per week for the extra in-person push, and doing the remainder on zoom. Zoom classes are offered 7 days a week. I usually do 5. What would you do?
I've obviously been very careful, but I feel like compared to some on here I haven't been totally worried personally this whole time. As in I never wiped down my groceries, I always went to the grocery store myself and I always had to go to work. I've focused on wearing my mask, washing my hands and not touching my face. So with that said, nope, no way I'm returning to my fitness classes. That is one thing I'm going to be strict about. I am/was very active and did classes multiple days per week and was about to join another gym more specifically for the pool, but nope not worth the risk personally for me. I don't think temperature checks do much and I think the risk of spread is via droplets when you spend a prolonged time with people (more than 10 min), so sanitizing stuff really isn't the end all be all to preventing transmission as people are breathing hard, coughing, etc while working out.
Even with my areas numbers looking really good and the likelihood of the person next to me not having covid, if they opened up gyms right now I would not go and don't plan to go until there's more understanding about this virus/better treatment/vaccine.
I think everyone obviously has to figure out their own comfort level and risk vs benefit. I do plan to continue to visit my partner once a month which involves a 1.5 hour train ride, so prolonged time near people, but for me personally I'm willing to risk that, but not that gym.
Thank you for your opinion. I think I'm letting my desire to have that bit of "normal" override what I know I should do. I 100% agree on the screening, who has an asymptomatic fever, lol? It made sense when I was doing it at the hospital and we were not universal masking, but it doesn't anymore (I more mean symptoms vs temp check). I will stick with zoom classes as well and really push to get that peleton 😂.