Opinion: Fitness centers play a key role in public health
Adam Hollier
In the melee of a public health emergency, leaders everywhere try to do whatever they can to protect people. It’s a big responsibility, and clear answers are not always available to provide direction.
Closing gyms and fitness centers at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic was the right thing to do at the time. After all, it seems like a place where people sweat, breathe heavily and share exercise equipment would be a prime place for trading illness.
However, data from the Michigan Fitness Club Association shows that 1.35 million visitors to 100 member gyms between September and early November have resulted in only 26 cases of COVID-19 — a .00192% positivity rate.