The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published a study Wednesday, February 24, 2021 September 8, 2020 that detailed factors in a study that found that 55 out of 81 exercisers at a gym in Chicago suffered COVID-19 illness in an outbreak that occurred during the end of August 2020 and the first day of September 2020. The CDC did not release the identity of the gym that was studied.
Remarkable highlights of the study involved the fact that exercisers attended class while sick, and also that 6-foot social distancing didn’t seem to be adequate to prevent transmission of COVID-19, which coincides with NFL contact tracing findings that discovered that the COVID-19 Protection Protocol of 6-foot social distancing with 15-Minutes max was not effective.
In August 2020, 55 COVID-19 cases were identified among 81 attendees of indoor high-intensity classes at a Chicago exercise facility. Twenty-two (40%) persons with COVID-19 attended on or after the day symptoms began. Most attendees (76%) wore masks infrequently, including persons with COVID-19 (84%) and without COVID-19 (60%).
The CDC reported that the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) was notified of a potential outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at an exercise facility. COVID-19 cases were identified among 55 (68%) of 81 attendees of in-person classes held during August 24–September 1, 2020, including 49 (60%) cases confirmed by real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing and six (7%) probable cases among attendees who had compatible symptoms but negative or no RT-PCR test results.
Overall, 43 (78%) attendees with COVID-19 participated in multiple classes while potentially infectious. Twenty-two (40%) attendees with COVID-19 attended on or after the day of symptom onset. Among 58 exercise class attendees who provided information on in-class behaviors, 44 (76%) reported infrequent mask use, including 32 of 38 (84%) attendees with COVID-19 and 12 of 20 (60%) without COVID-19. The increased respiratory exertion that occurs in the enclosed spaces of indoor exercise facilities facilitates transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in these settings, according to research cited by the study.
Investigation and Results
During August 24–September 1, 2020, an exercise facility offered four to eight high-intensity indoor classes daily. All classes were held at ≤25% capacity (i.e., 10–15 persons). Mask use, temperature checks, and symptom screenings were required on entry; however, patrons were allowed to remove masks during exercise. Patrons brought their own mats and weights and were stationed ≥6 ft apart. On September 1, a patron notified the facility of receipt of a positive test result. The dates of symptom onset and last exercise class attendance were both August 28. The facility closed for 13 days and informed all attendees of their possible COVID-19 exposure. On September 8, during routine case investigation, CDPH identified a cluster of cases linked to the facility. When CDPH first contacted the facility on September 10, the facility had already notified all attendees (employees and patrons) of potential COVID-19 exposure and learned of 41 patrons with COVID-19–compatible symptoms or positive test results. The facility provided contact information and last attendance date for all persons who had attended classes during August 24–September 1.
Case investigations were conducted using standardized REDCap data collection tools (version 10.3.3; Vanderbilt University). All August 24–September 1 class attendees were contacted for interview during September 14–22. Testing and outcomes data, social activities, and in-class behaviors (i.e., mask use and physical distancing) were assessed.
A laboratory-confirmed case was defined as a positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test result for any facility attendee during August 24–September 15. Attendees with symptoms clinically compatible with COVID-19who did not have a positive test result were considered to have probable COVID-19. Self-reported positive test results were confirmed through Illinois’ National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (I-NEDSS). Characteristics of attendees with and without COVID-19 were compared using Fisher’s exact test. Associations between in-class behaviors and COVID-19 case status were estimated using logistic regression. The primary analyses included probable and confirmed cases. A complete-case sensitivity analysis included only attendees with laboratory-confirmed positive or negative COVID-19 status (i.e., a positive or negative SARS-CoV-2 test result) who also provided information on frequency of in-class mask use and distancing.
Among 91 facility attendees (88 patrons and three employees), 10 had neither testing nor interview data available and were excluded. Among the remaining 81 attendees, 55 (68%) COVID-19 cases were identified, including 49 (60%) laboratory-confirmed cases and six (7%) probable cases; all identified cases were among patrons. Seventy-three (90%) attendees were interviewed, including 47 (85%) of 55 with COVID-19. Eight attendees with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 (16%) were not interviewed.
Sixty-eight (84%) attendees were Chicago residents, 71 (88%) were women, and 72 (97%) were non-Hispanic Black; the median age was 42 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 29–55 years). Among 73 interviewees, 24 (33%) reported medical conditions associated with severe COVID-19 illness; asthma was the most frequently reported underlying condition, reported by 11 (15%) attendees.
Twenty-two (40%) attendees with COVID-19 reported measured or subjective fever. Two (4%) visited an emergency department; one (2%) patient was hospitalized for 8 days. No deaths were reported. Symptom onset dates ranged from August 19 to September 11. Twenty-two (40%) attendees with COVID-19 attended an exercise class on or after the date of symptom onset, including three (5%) who attended on the same day or after they received the positive test result. Overall, 43 (78%) attendees with COVID-19 attended an exercise class during their estimated infectious periods. Attendees with COVID-19 reported participating in a median of five exercise classes (IQR = 3–7); attendees without COVID-19 reported attending a median of three exercise classes (IQR = 1–6).
Interquartile range (IQR) is a measure of dispersion that encompasses the middle half of the data by taking the difference between the data values positioned at the 25th and 75th percentiles.
Two attendees with COVID-19 (attendees A and B) reported symptom onset during August 19–20; each attended five classes during August 24–September 1 while symptomatic (Figure). Attendees A and B both received positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR results after the facility closed; both reported mask use less than 60% of the time in class (infrequent mask use).
Among 58 (72%) interviewees who provided information on in-class behaviors, including 38 (69%) attendees with and 20 (77%) without COVID-19, infrequent mask use during class was reported more commonly among attendees with COVID-19 (32; 84%) than among those who did not have COVID-19 (12; 60%) (odds ratio [OR] = 3.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.9–15.1). Twelve attendees with COVID-19 and eight who did not have COVID-19 reported social exposures outside the exercise facility during August 19–September 2. Sensitivity analyses included 32 attendees with positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test results and 10 with negative results. Findings were similar to those of the primary analysis: 28 (88%) attendees with COVID-19 and six (60%) without COVID-19 reported infrequent mask use during an exercise class; the odds of infrequent mask use were greater (OR = 4.5; 95% CI = 0.6–32.2) among attendees with COVID-19 than among those without COVID-19.
Public Health Response
After receiving notification of a COVID-19 case in one of its patrons, the exercise facility closed and informed all attendees of possible COVID-19 exposure. CDPH reviewed infection control guidance with the facility, emphasizing the importance of mask use, a 14-day quarantine, isolation, and testing. In addition to following this public health guidance, the facility also asked attendees to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result to return to class. At the time of this outbreak, businesses in Chicago were encouraged but not required to report COVID-19 cases. Under CDPH’s revised public health order, city-licensed businesses are now required to report any COVID-19–related suspension of operations and awareness of five or more confirmed COVD-19 cases among employees or patrons.
Limitations of the Research Study
The findings in this report are subject to at least five limitations. First, because of incomplete interview and testing data, the cases might have been undercounted. Second, not all interviewees reported their class attendance or in-class behaviors, which limited the ability to link cases to particular classes and assess differences between attendees who did and did not have COVID-19. Third, reliance on self-reported behaviors and COVID-19 case status might have introduced recall and social desirability biases. Fourth, nonresponse and the small cohort size limited the precision of effect estimates. Finally, whole-genome sequencing was not performed to assess the phylogenetic relationships among cases linked to the exercise facility, and some attendees with COVID-19 might have acquired different strains of SARS-CoV-2 elsewhere in the community.
Connections with Other Research
The researchers noted the following information with citations to other research articles.
Data on transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in exercise facilities are limited; outbreak reports indicate that increased respiratory exertion might facilitate transmission. Clusters of SARS-CoV-2 transmission associated with exercise groups were reported before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic and before mask use was broadly recommended. In a more recent outbreak related to an indoor hockey game, only athletic face shields partially covering the nose and mouth were used.
Although the timing of cases suggests a point-source exposure, none was identified. Most interviewees attended several exercise classes. Some published evidence supports aerosolized transmission of SARS-CoV-2, which could have been a contributing factor in this outbreak. Although the facility’s ventilation system was not assessed, inadequate air circulation might have exacerbated transmission in the building, which was not originally designed for exercise classes.
Conclusion and Application of Research Results
The researchers concluded that information learned about the outbreak reinforces the need for combined COVID-19 prevention strategies, including universal mask use in public settings when persons are with others who do not live in the same household, especially indoors; testing of symptomatic persons and those who have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2; self-isolation after symptom onset or a positive COVID-19 test result; and quarantining of persons who have been exposed to SARS-CoV-2. Cases were identified among 68% of facility attendees, and CDPH attributed this outbreak to the high proportion of attendees with COVID-19 who participated in class while symptomatic, or asymptomatic and infectious. Most attendees did not wear a mask during exercise class; infrequent mask use when participating in indoor exercise classes likely contributed to transmission. In addition, the potential for infected persons to infect others between their testing date and receipt of test result reinforces the need to quarantine while waiting for a COVID-19 test result and avoid gatherings while unknowingly infectious.
The CDC researchers concluded that the outbreak described in this report occurred despite use of certain COVID-19 mitigation measures. To reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission in exercise facilities, employees and patrons should wear a mask, even during high-intensity activities while greater than 6 feet apart. In addition, facilities should provide engineering and administrative controls including improving ventilation.
Facilities should also enforce physical distancing, increasing opportunities for hand hygiene, and remind all employees and patrons to …
1) isolate when experiencing COVID-19–like symptoms or after receiving a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result, and
2) quarantine after a potential exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and while awaiting test results.
The CDC researchers also reported that exercising outdoors or via virtual attendance could further reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk.
See full research article with tables, citations, research methods, and acknowledgments …
Lendacki FR, Teran RA, Gretsch S, Fricchione MJ, Kerins JL. COVID-19 Outbreak Among Attendees of an Exercise Facility — Chicago, Illinois, August–September 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. ePub: 24 February 2021. DOI:
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