As the New York metropolitan area continues to keep the COVID-19 curve flat, more establishments have opened. But, before hitting the pool or booking an appointment at the day spa, be aware that the risk of contracting the virus has not dissipated.
“Any place where we have public interaction beyond our immediate family or immediate contacts, we are exposing ourselves to the virus,” says Waleed Javaid, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “The more people we meet, the more interactions we have, the expansion of our social circle; this increases our risk.”
Dr. Javaid explains what questions you should ask before visiting your local pool or spa to ensure the safest possible visit.
What precautions should you take before heading to the pool?
I think it will be important to make sure that the pool or hot tub that you are entering is following up on disinfection protocols. The cleaners and disinfectants used in and around the area should be registered by the US Environmental Protection Agency to kill the virus.
Do saunas and steam rooms pose a risk of spreading COVID-19?
If you’re not following social distancing guidelines, there is a risk. But it really depends on the size of the facility and how they may be modifying their business practices due to the virus.
Masking is not going to be effective in a sauna or steam room because—besides being incredibly uncomfortable—the moisture will likely reduce the efficacy of a face covering. So perhaps it is best to do individual saunas.
Not every place is going to do the same thing, so people should be proactive in asking about what kind of protections are in place for safety before entering an establishment.
Since there is no standard protocol for these establishments, what should people ask before visiting?
Before visiting a pool or spa, people should ask two questions: What is the facility doing to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and what is the process they are using to ensure the virus does not spread throughout their establishment.
From there, you can go into some specifics.
- What disinfectant is in use?
- What is the social distancing process and how is it being reinforced?
- How many people are allowed in the facility at any given time?
- How often are shared spaces being disinfected?
- Is shared equipment being cleaned between each customer?
Additionally, I would recommend that people review guidance from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention on public pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds.
Despite spas being allowed to open, at this time gyms throughout the New York metropolitan area remain closed. Why are gyms particularly risky? Is the virus spread through sweat?
At this time, we do not believe that the virus is spread through sweat. However, the risk with gyms is related to the amount of people in an enclosed area. I continue to recommend that everyone stay safe by keeping their distance. So, individualized outdoor exercise like walking, jogging, running, or even outdoor yoga is better than exercising indoors.
Gyms have many people exercising indoors—whether on machines or in fitness classes—and sharing equipment. Contrast that with a spa where the activity—like a facial or a massage—though indoors, is individualized. So spas—where the interaction is often between one or two individuals—present a more controlled environment.
At least, that is how I think this decision is being evaluated.
Do you have any other advice about how to stay safe as we continue this reopening effort and begin to expand our social circles?
Everybody needs to take charge to protect their health and the health of those around them. If, for example, you feel unsafe in a grocery store because there’s too many people, don’t be afraid to remove yourself from that situation.
Also, just because more places are open doesn’t mean that you have to enter them, especially if strict social distancing is not being practiced.