I never went to gym but started to have sessions with a physiotherapist recently who works in a gym for "reeducation" via accident insurance .

The gym is quite small. Normally at the time I have sessions, there are 3-4 customers and 3 staff. Generally 2 of 3 staff wear a mask but sometimes they would get it off when they exercise. only half of the customers wear a mask and they would also get it off when they exercise.

I was expecting some change this week after the change of federal rules this Sunday that everyone shall wear a mask in indoor public place. But it is the same situation.

I passed in front of a bigger gym yesterday, based on the 2 people in the part where I could see, it seems the same situation.

Would you stop seeing this physiotherpist and try to find one who doesn't work in a gym?

Yes if in a high risk group, but as I'm not I would continue with them.

The rules for gyms are that you must wear a mask in the changing room - previously you didn't - Otherwise not. If you're concerned, find another physio.

I do find it odd when people are wearing masks in 90° saunas.

There is an exception in Gyms. Masks are required except while exercising.

Tell your physiotherapist that you are uncomfortable in that environment and ask for an alternative. If he can’t change then I would find a new physiotherapist.

Especially when they don't wear anything else.

I went to my gym yesterday - about half the people were abiding by the rule that you need to wear a mask while not exercising (i.e. between machines, walking around the floor, chatting up the pretty girl who doesn't want to be bothered, etc).

Then there were a small few who wore the mask while exercising (myself included). It's not comfy, but it really doesn't impact much. I work with pharma/medical companies, so I find it ridiculous when people whinge about wearing a mask... Next time you're in for surgery, how would you feel if your surgeon wasn't wearing a mask?

As has been pointed out many times - that's a totally different context. Your gym buddies aren't opening up your body, and don't need protecting from jets of blood and other icky things coming out of you.

Migros Fitness say:

Since 19 October 2020, it has been mandatory to wear masks in fitness studios from the entrance to the studio to and including the cloakroom (except when changing and showering) and from the cloakroom to the training area. On the training area (strength, functional, stretching, coordination, endurance but also in the group fitness room etc.) there is no mask obligation.

Which indicates that if there is a rule in your gym about wearing masks between exercise equipment, that it isn't everywhere a rule.

Not that wearing a mask bothers me.

__________________
Down with racism. Long live miscegenation!

I don't know, with all the grunting and groaning going on I thought there'd be ickyness somewhere in the gym. I've definitely seen more than one person puke in a gym, I wouldn't want to see them wear a mask for that though.

I think this is a common misconception - the mask is not to protect the wearer (at least, that's not the primary function). Same goes for a surgeons mask. There is a Perspex face shield for "jets of blood".

The mask is to reduce the viral load coming out of you, and ending up in the air around you.

The attached image, imo, is a perfect comparison.

Which is, ironically, when most of the risky "particles" run out of people's mouth too...

We have to wear a mask at my company gym at all times (exercising included).
And everyone does - if they want to train.
Plus disinfect equipment after every use.
Benefit is that gym is emptier than ever.

I think it is a bit silly to require masks in the changing areas/lobby etc. but not in the workout space. As you are breathing the hardest and fluids are being actively spread through sweat etc..

My take on it is, if you are at risk, don't go to the gym now. I miss it.

Seems to be a ridiculous rule. Is there actually an official allowance for it? It's a bit like saying you have to wear your mask at the bus-stop but not when you're on the bus.

I'll go to the gym after work. I expect less people and that is good. Let's see what happens.

A mask is no that different than wearing a full face helmet + googles while riding a bike down the hill. Air flow is blocked a bit but lifting weight is anaerobic exercise...so no prob

A friend who goes to the gym three times a week told me, masks must be worn when changing from spot to spot (machine to machine) but not during exercise.

Guess the next step up from that will be it's closed again.

One thing different is that in the gyms they provide cleaning products and you're supposed to wipe down the equipment after use.

Also on the buses you're not supposed to use the door buttons and should minimise use of handrails, which added to masks helps a lot.

After you've sweated all over the grips of a gym machine, a mask in addition is really not going to help much. Wiping down though probably does.

There are a few at my gym who wear gloves and so don't disinfect their hands between machines, but kindly spread any viri round for all the rest of us.

One guy I spotted was wearing Marigold household gloves...

This turns out not to be the case - or rather perhaps not in the way you mean.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4480558/
...overall there is a lack of substantial evidence to support claims that facemasks protect either patient or surgeon from infectious contamination.

So even if they do (which is doubt), it's still a rather hyperbolic comparison. Surgery is far more infection prone that not wearing a mask in the gym. And the likely consequences even grimmer. Your cartoon is nice and an excellent way of communicating the necessity off wearing masks in many parts of daily life, but also rather a non-sequitur for the comparison with surgery. However, if you feel it's cogent and a fair comparison, so be it.

We're also supposed to do it before in my gym. Probably to deal with people like...

There was an article in Beobachter concerning the wearing of gloves. Many household cleaning type gloves are full of microscopic holes, so while they may offer a little protection, they're nowhere nears as good as simply washing and disinfecting (or even washing). In biological hazardous laboratories, you have to disinfect their hands, and wear two pairs of gloves, each also dipped in disinfectant. Not that I think that's necessary for the gym.

__________________
Down with racism. Long live miscegenation!

Cardio machines yes... but people aren't wiping down dumbbells, ropes etc..

I always wipe handles of dumbells after use and also the handles of the flex type machine things we have at my gym. If my paws go on it, it gets wiped after i used it - same as any knee pads or whatever on the machines too i would have leant on.

why would anyone want to go to a gym at the moment, with people breathing heavy, spluttering and sweating, is just beyond me. Go and exercise outside, for for a run, Vita parcours, etc. But enclosed gym - yiikes NO. Death wish.