CFSV COVID-19 Update

JT Scott | 03/14/2020 | 1

Hey CFSV members,

JT here with a message about COVID-19, what we’re doing at the facility, and what our plan is moving forward. I’ll preface all of it by saying that doing what you need to do to feel safe is the most important consideration, and we support you in that.

Given the rapid spread in Massachusetts, our proximity to Biogen, and the recent actions taken by all of the local universities, folks are getting understandably concerned. I’m staying up to date on both Massachusetts state level directives and guidance from our municipal Health Department. We are still on the rising edge of this public health event and we are trying to move responsibly and swiftly.

At this time we are remaining open on a limited basis. Based on all of the guidance and actions taken by the state and regional municipalities, the directives focus mostly on large gatherings (for values of “large” between 25 and infinity) and situations where people are crowded together. Fortunately, CrossFit Somerville has small classes and plenty of space for “social distancing”, and we are reducing our maximum class sizes and taking measures described below to control the space tightly. Unfortunately, transmission vectors are everywhere and the safest thing you can possibly be doing right now is to stay at home and minimize activities that expose you t o other people.

To help you do this and continue to stay fit, the programming we will be publishing on the Blog each day moving forward will be “Workout From Home” programming – things you can do at home. (We may even be posting some workout demo videos online to go with the WFH WOD posts.) We encourage you to do the workout at home and post your experience in the comments on the blog – what did you modify? How did it feel? How are you doing? We want to stay in touch with you even if you don’t come in to work out, which may be a really good choice for you. 

Because I want to make this especially clear: coming to the gym is a risk to you and everyone else you will come into contact with afterwards, and to the operating capacity of our health care system to handle this pandemic. Keeping this gym open is a risk we are taking with you, in part because we understand how much this space and this experience means to both us and you. We are also doing it in part to help develop and spread good practices for keeping each other safe.

We are doing everything we can to minimize the risk of transmission here, but it is not “100% safe”.  Please consider the following:

 • If you have an immunocompromised spouse or friend you have contact with, please stay home.

 • If you are feeling unwell, please stay home.

 • If you have been exposed to anyone currently in self-quarantine, please stay home.

 • If you suspect you otherwise might be at high risk, please stay home. Keep everyone else safe too.

SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19, appears to be able to survive on surfaces for several days. Everything you touch on your way to the box may be contagious. To keep both you and us safe for the duration, we have designed a “Defense-in-Depth” approach to reducing risks of transmission while in the facility.

1) Entry Checkpoint: Wash Hands Before Entering Gym Floor.

There is a big sign that you cannot walk past without seeing it. Everything that happens beyond that point is beyond our ability as coaches to monitor and control. (We are wiping down door handles and bathroom surfaces with bleach frequently, but not between each use – they cannot be presumed to be clean.) Every person must wash their hands immediately before entering the gym floor. We have the finest antimicrobial foaming hand soap in each bathroom. It’s the good stuff. USE IT for the recommended 20-second minimum hand washing.

2) Once on the Gym Floor: Do not touch or use any equipment or surface that cannot be sanitized.

This includes more than you think. We have removed all the rings and ring straps, and the ropes won’t be coming down. We have removed all the bands, whiteboards, markers, and chalk bucket. We have covered the foam rollers. The plates are capped with clamps and we will not be doing any loaded barbell work. The wood boxes are off-limits, we will only be using the vinyl-covered foam boxes to scale movements and cleaning them before and after.

Note that this also includes the floors. All of our programming in the facility for the duration that we remain open will be “hands off the floor”, meaning no pushups, burpees, crawls, etc. 

3) Before touching any equipment or surface that can be sanitized, clean it with bleach/paper towel or bleach wipe.

If you are grabbing a dumbbell or kettlebell or pull-up bar, use bleach to clean it. It’s yours now. Yes, hopefully the person before you also cleaned it, but you don’t know that for sure so do it yourself. Likewise, don’t share equipment. That pull-up bar is yours for the hour.

4) After using equipment, clean it with bleach/paper towel or bleach wipe.

When you are done, wipe it down well as you replace it.

5) When leaving the facility, wash your hands. This is just good advice in general.

We as coaches will also be doing our part to try to keep the areas outside the “STOP” sign clean, cleaning the bathrooms and door handles etc, but remember that is just not enough – and reducing transmission risk is an individual mandate with societal consequences. Obviously all of this is a lot to do, and we expect fewer people to participate, so we are reducing max class sizes to 8 for safe spacing and to ensure we as coaches can help you maintain vigilance on your safety practices.

Our goals with these measures are to keep you healthy, continue to improve your personal fitness and resilience, minimize the spread of this infection, and help “flatten the curve” so that our health care infrastructure can keep pace with cases that continue to develop.

We are remaining open now – in this limited and controlled fashion – because we feel these measures are sufficient and responsible given the current guidance on pandemic response from the local and state level. That guidance will change in the coming weeks and months, and we will adapt as the situation continues to change. In the meantime, we are ready to keep you moving (here or at home) and connected to each other in supportive community.

Thank you for helping us help you, and for being a part of this remarkable community that we all love so much. We’re here for you.

-JTS