Some cities have required non-essential businesses to shut down altogether. Different parts of the country are in different states of lockdown, something that will likely continue for months ahead. If you’re feeling a wee bit anxious (and you’re reading this article), chances are good that getting your ass to the gym would improve your mental health… especially if you’re banking on an upcoming competition not being canceled. But is going to the gym a good idea? Far be it from me to make that decision for you (or keep you away from the barbell), but let’s break down some things to consider when you decide between doing Never Gymless workouts from home or hitting the box.

Where do you live?

It’s not yet entirely clear where coronavirus is spreading. Each week we learn a little more. Due to limited tests, it’s possible that there are many more people who are infected than the official counts indicate. (Incidentally, this also means that the fatality rate may be lower in the U.S. than reported.) What may look like a huge surge in cases may actually be more reflective of increased testing. That said, the number of those infected is increasing exponentially and it’s unclear whether or when this will change.

While it’s not always possible to know if there’s an active outbreak in your area. That said, there are times when you do know. Areas with outbreaks are those where you may be more likely to get infected at the gym than states that have fewer reported cases. You yourself may be an asymptomatic carrier, so even if you feel fine, the people you get sick might not fare as well. Something worth keeping in mind.

How old are you?

Your risk of becoming severely ill—or even dying—increases underlying health conditions. It also increases with age, with research suggesting the fatality rate of people 80 or older is nearly 15 percent. (60-69 year-olds are at a 3.6 percent fatality rate, and those aged 70 to 79 have an 8 percent fatality rate.) Of course, the fatality rates might change, but the increased risk for older athletes is likely to stay around the same. People in this age group may want to avoid crowds. But even healthy, young people have to grapple with the possibility that they could spread this virus to people in this age group, which is something worth grappling with when making this decision.

 Do you have underlying health conditions?

Obviously, people already suffering from other health conditions have a higher fatality rate than those without. If you have a compromised immune system, it might be best to wait things out for a bit. But you probably already knew that.

Again, though, even if you’re healthy as a horse, you may come across someone that isn’t in your day to day life, so be aware that you could still spread this virus to someone who is likely to be hospitalized or die.

Reducing Risk

If you do decide to go to the gym, either now or in the future, there are some precautions you can take to protect yourself and others.

If you don’t regularly wipe down your mats, barbells, etc. before and after you use them, you might want to start. Carrying your own wipes is your best bet, assuming they are at least 60% alcohol (and not the drinking kind). If you’re super into this, you may find yourself wiping down doorknobs, pens at the sign-in desk, and your phone after you set it down on the floor.

If you are used to carrying around a towel to wipe up your sweat or to wipe down equipment, make sure not to throw it on the floor or anything crazy.

Wash your hands before and after you work out. Don’t just rinse them off them under the sink. Wash for 20 seconds with soap while singing your favorite ditty. Stock up on lotion. If you’re washing your hands properly all the time, they’re going to get dry.

You probably aren’t going to want to run to the bathroom between each set, so using your wipes or hand sanitizer (again, with the right concentration of alcohol) is an option.

Another recommendation is not to touch your face—but it’s a hard one to follow since many of us habitually do so without even realizing it. And it’s actually not touching your face, but rather touching your mucus membranes, that is the problem. One thing you can do is wear gloves, which may make it less likely for you to touch your eyes, nose or mouth. Just remember to wash your hands after you peel those gloves off.

Avoiding peak gym times can also help reduce your risk. And no matter when you go, maybe hold off on the hugs and high-fives, sharing water bottles or using a shared water fountain.

And if you see someone who’s obviously sick, avoid them like the (heh) plague.

Skipping the Gym

If you’re not feeling well, have some empathy for everyone else at the gym and stay home.

But if you’re feeling fine and waiting it out at home in case someone else is sick, make sure to still get your workouts in. Use dumbbells, kettlebells, bands, logs, soup cans… whatever you’ve got. Outdoor exercise is okay, too, as long as you’re not surrounded by people just like you would be in a gym. In fact, you may want to be 6 feet away from anybody, so pick the less popular trail.

And, of course, you may way want to stock up on food if you’re not planning on leaving your house for a while. You don’t need to eat weird freeze-dried foods, though, and you don’t need to stock up on water if you drink tap. No reason to think it’ll get shut off unless you’re missing all your bill payments or something.

For Gym Owners

As a gym owner, you have a lot more power over how things run. And with great power comes great responsibility. A lot of gyms are shutting down temporarily altogether, and shifting in-person classes to writing online workouts.

If you do close and then decide to re-open in the future, you may want to do so cautiously. We know Performance Menu readers don’t run 200-person Jazzercise classes, but if you do have any large classes, consider canceling them for a bit longer—depending on where you live. You can add small classes, private and semi-private sessions back first and monitor, then add larger classes at a later date.

No matter how many people are in a class, if you see someone obviously sick, send ‘em home. Your gym, your rules.

Keep wipes or paper towels and cleaners around for your athletes. Make sure to remind people to wipe stuff down after they use it. This can be accomplished verbally or through obnoxious signs, depending on your gym.

Make sure to wipe things down yourself… more often than you usually do. The American Chemistry Council has a list of products that the Environmental Protection Agency recommends using against viral pathogens. Use a product on this list. Don’t worry, Clorox, Lysol and Purell products are on it.

If you do close your gym temporarily, you can use that time to do a deep cleaning.

Stock up on soap for your bathrooms—and add some lotion, too. Single-serve packets, please. People will be more likely to wash (or wash longer) if they can put lotion on after. And speaking of encouraging people to wash their hands longer, the bathroom sinks are actually good places to put up signs. You can also keep sanitizer by the entrance if you want, as long as it’s 60% alcohol. Soap is less expensive and likely more effective, but convenience is a thing.

Tell your staff to stay home if they’re sick. If you can afford to pay them for the days they’re off, consider doing that.

Write alternate programs for your athletes that choose not to come in until things die down. Even knowing they have the option to work out at home and stay on their program will build trust. But you may need to get people up to speed on how to use the platforms you’re relying on, checking in to see what questions they have.

This is also a time to consider adding services for people who need them, especially if you’re seeing a drop in clients and income. Survey your athletes to see what kind of services they’re looking for and would pay for, whether it’s videos of workouts they can do with the children they have to watch during the day while schools are shut down, cooking videos now that they’re relying on dried and frozen goods, or something you haven’t even thought of.

Good luck, and stay safe out there.