A cycling studio in Canada caused an outbreak of COVID-19 for 72 people

Despite following COVID-19 protocols, indoor cycling classes at Spinco Fitness Studio have caused outbreaks of coronavirus for at least 72 people in Ontario, Canada, public health officials said. CNN reported that as many as 100 employees, customers, and family members have been exposed to the virus.

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A cycling studio in Canada caused 72 people to have an outbreak of COVID-19 – here’s what to know

Hamilton’s health physician Elizabeth Richardson said in a statement to CNN that Spinco studio just reopened in Hamilton, Ontario, in July, and was adhering to coronavirus safety rules. This included screening staff and attendees, tracking attendees, hiding masks before and after classes, washing towels, and cleaning rooms within 30 minutes after class ended. According to city officials, the Spinco was also running at half its capacity and maintained a radius of six feet around each bike.

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“We have taken all the measures provided by public health, and even added a few, and the epidemic continues to hit us again,” the studio wrote on Instagram. The outbreak appears to be related to classes held from September 28 to October 4, and Spinko Hamilton has been closed since the outbreak was identified. Of the confirmed positive cases associated with the studio, 47 are primary cases (45 beneficiaries and two employees) and 25 are secondary cases, indicating a “spread of family” to family, friends or other contacts.

There has been concern about indoor exercise classes potentially helping with the transmission of the coronavirus, but this appears to be one of the largest related disease outbreaks to date. Officials are especially concerned that the facility has been following health protocols closely. “We continue to look at what that means, and what we need to understand about exercise classes,” said Dr. Richardson in a media briefing on October 13, according to CNN.

Lynsey Marr, Ph.D., aviation expert and professor of engineering at Virginia Tech, noted on Twitter that the protocol It does not appear to require effective ventilation In the studio – an increasingly important factor given the potential for the virus to spread through the air. I wrote, “Six feet is not enough.” “The gym did a health check, cleanup, masks before and after class, 50% capacity, 6 feet around each bike. Nothing about ventilation.”

According to Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), a public health spokesperson said the scale of the outbreak, despite adherence to the protocol, “is likely to contribute to changing guidelines and practices going forward.”