Richard Carmona: Right here’s a blueprint to reopen health facilities | Editorial

Meanwhile, California leaders have been encouraging citizens to “go outside” or “go for a walk on the beach” to exercise. Newsom recently tweeted that “mental health is physical health” and “now it’s so important to stay active and connected”.

While this is good advice, public health policy cannot ignore the fact that many Californians simply cannot exercise effectively at home or outdoors due to poor air quality, a lack of recreational spaces, or the inability to purchase and maintain fitness equipment and subscriptions at home. In addition, many people have already customized their own exercise regimen for the best results in a well-equipped gym.

To find a solution, large fitness facilities have come together to develop a reopening plan that follows CDC and other public health recommendations.

The California Safe Fitness Plan, if implemented, would be the strictest requirements in the country yet still provide critical access to fitness. The plan provides for limited capacity, a greater physical distance of 12 feet – double the national 6 foot standard – mandatory face coverings, and a record of every person entering a fitness facility for contact tracking.

In addition, the plan would require disinfecting equipment every 20 minutes during operating hours, closing it overnight from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to disinfect all surfaces and equipment, and closing all communal locker rooms and showers while a region is in the Purple Tier “Is located. ”

Perhaps most importantly, large fitness facilities allow for greater airflow and robust air circulation systems. According to the California plan, fitness centers would have to use a MERV-13 air filtration standard.