Covid 19 coronavirus: 89 people identified as close contacts of positive case at North Shore gym

Eighty-nine people have been identified as close contacts of a person who attended a North Shore gym before testing positive for Covid-19.

All gym-goers are advised to self-isolate for two weeks in case they too have become infected with the virus.

Another 220 people who were in the gym at the same time, but who did not participate in the classes, are considered casual contacts.

Although they don’t have to isolate themselves, they are urged to take a one-time Covid test and monitor their health for the next several days in case they feel unwell.

Les Mills Takapuna has carried out a series of “deep cleanings” at the site since health authorities told it that one of its members had tested positive in recent days.

The infected member attended three classes last week: two on Wednesday and one the next morning.

On Wednesday, the member was there between 5.15pm and 7.15pm, attending the RPM Sprint class that started at 5.30pm and a Body Combat class that started at 6.15pm.

They also attended a Body Combat class the next morning that started at 9.15am. They were in the gym between 9am and 10.15am that day.

Each and every piece of equipment, from weights to large exercise machines, at a North Shore gym was thoroughly cleaned after a member tested positive for Covid-19.

Despite being advised by the Auckland Regional Public Health Service that the club was safe to open to the public due to its ongoing cleaning regimen, the gym has carried out a ‘complete additional deep clean’ on site and has performed an antiviral fogging. treatment too.

“We go beyond the Ministry of Health guidelines for cleaning and disinfection where a confirmed case of Covid-19 has been identified,” the club says on its website.

“Our deep cleaning is from floor to ceiling and includes all equipment: every weight, every bar, every bench, every surface, and all equipment, as well as changing rooms, wet areas, common spaces, and shared facilities.

“They are all cleaned with hospital grade cleaning products to ensure our facilities remain safe to use.”

The gym remains open.

But anyone who attended the same classes as the person who later tested positive is told that they are officially considered a close contact and must self-isolate for 14 days.

The gym case could ‘start’ the group again

All members who attended those classes are considered “at higher risk” for getting sick, the gym has been reported.

University of Auckland physics professor Shaun Hendy told Radio NZ that the gym case could see Auckland’s current group grow again.

“Our model shows that we could have this long period where we gradually get to a few zeros, a few days with one case more or less before eliminating.

“But there is also the possibility that the cluster could start over. The model shows that both scenarios are possible.”

He said going to the gym was a “high-risk activity,” as people were breathing heavily and being close to others indoors.

“That’s the kind of activity where we could expect to see some spread.”

Regarding today’s highly anticipated announcement of a possible movement of the alert levels, Hendy said he does not believe the restrictions should be eased today.

The Les Mills club’s chief operating officer, Brett Sutton, told the Herald that they had strict tracking systems for all member visits and had been able to provide that information to ARPHS quickly.

“We have quickly provided information to health authorities and have also been in direct communication with our members,” he said.

The official advice for affected gym members is to call 24/7 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 and arrange to be tested for the virus.

Anyone who has been to a public gym at any of those times, but was not in any of the classes mentioned, is considered casual contacts and does not need to isolate themselves unless they become ill.

However, those people are told to stay on the lookout for any flu-like signs or symptoms and should also arrange to have a one-time Covid-19 test.

The gym says that anyone who needs to isolate themselves can contact the gym to put their membership on hold under the “Covid-19 special hiatus.”