美国一些健身房重新开放，采取了新的抗病毒措施

Some US Gyms Reopen with New Anti-Virus Measures

Some fitness¹ centers in the United States have reopened after lengthy² closures meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus.

But the centers, also known as gyms, have established several operational changes in an effort to keep members safe. While the changes look different across states and cities, there are a few basic ideas that most gyms are using.

One of the biggest changes is the creation³ of more space between workout machines. In addition, gyms are reducing class sizes, cleaning equipment more often and using touchless entry - a way of entering doors without having to touch anything. Some gyms are requiring members to request limited workout times so equipment can be deep cleaned after each use throughout the day.

Still, some say going to the gym is risky⁴. As the country reopens, even some of the most dedicated⁵ exercisers are concerned about returning.

Exercise and gyms

Mike Weeks and his wife love exercising. During quarantine, they tried home workouts such as push-ups, planks⁶ and bike riding. But these workouts were not as fun. Weeks, a semi-retired oil and gas explorer, wanted to go back to his old gym workout.

"To say I missed it..." Weeks said of his gym visits, "is an understatement." An understatement is a kind of statement that makes something seem smaller or less important than it is.

On May 8, the first day that Life Time gym reopened, the Oklahoma City resident was right there, though a little "apprehensive⁷."

"I'm 66 years old," Weeks said, adding that he was in a high-risk group.

For Weeks, the benefits of exercise seem greater than the risks. Many experts agree. They believe that for the majority of healthy Americans under 65, the physical and mental benefits of working out are greater than the risks.

Dr. Deverick Anderson is director of the Duke Center for Antimicrobial Stewardship⁸ and Infection Prevention.

"Everyone will have to keep in mind that the world we're trying to get back to is going to carry risk," Anderson said. "I think responsibility is on both sides of that coin. Don't just rely on your gym to do everything. You've got to play a part in this process as well."

Gyms and the future

However, some experts wonder how prepared the U.S. fitness industry is to deal with reopening. Critics note that there are no clear rules and enforcement nationwide.

Dr. Kristin Englund is an infectious⁹ diseases expert at the Cleveland Clinic. "I'm still very concerned," Englund told The Associated Press. "If they're not wearing a mask or wiping down the equipment," she asked, "what is the ability to enforce that or not allow them to come back?"

Aaron Fowler brought a mask with him when he returned to his exercise class at CITYROW in Atlanta, Georgia last weekend. But he quickly put it aside because it caused breathing difficulties. The exercise machines were much further apart than in the past, and only seven people were permitted in the class.

Fowler, who is in charge of transportation at an Atlanta university, told the AP that just being able to work out for an hour helped him ease some stress, and that was important. He signed up for the next class, but says he will consider the risks day by day.

He expects the virus threat to last a year. "I don't know if I can go that long without it," he said about his gym activity.

I'm John Russell.

Words in This Story

dedicated – adj. having very strong support for or loyalty¹⁰ to a person, group, cause, etc.

quarantine – n. the period of time during which a person or animal that has a disease or that might have a disease is kept away from others to prevent the disease from spreading

apprehensive – adj. afraid that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen

benefit – n. a good or helpful result or effect

rely on – phrasal verb to depend on (someone or something).

mask – n. a covering for your face or for part of your face

allow – v. to permit (something) : to regard or treat (something) as acceptable¹¹

stress – n. a state of mental tension and worry caused by problems in your life, work, etc.

1 fitness   

n.适合，适当，健康，健身

参考例句：

• They're doing exercises to improve their fitness.他们为增强体质而做体操。
• No one questions her fitness for the job.没人怀疑她能胜任这项工作。

2 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

3 creation   

n.创造，创造的作品，产物，宇宙，天地万物

参考例句：

• Language is the most important mental creation of man.语言是人类头脑最重要的产物。
• The creation of new playgrounds will benefit the local children.新游戏场的建立将有益于当地的儿童。

4 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

5 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

6 planks   

（厚）木板( plank的名词复数 )； 政纲条目，政策要点

参考例句：

• The house was built solidly of rough wooden planks. 这房子是用粗木板牢固地建造的。
• We sawed the log into planks. 我们把木头锯成了木板。

7 apprehensive   

adj.担心的，恐惧的，善于领会的

参考例句：

• She was deeply apprehensive about her future.她对未来感到非常担心。
• He was rather apprehensive of failure.他相当害怕失败。

8 stewardship   

n. n. 管理工作；管事人的职位及职责

参考例句：

• The organization certainly prospered under his stewardship. 不可否认，这个组织在他的管理下兴旺了起来。
• Last, but certainly not least, are the issues of stewardship and ethics. 最后，但当然不是微不足道的，是工作和道德规范的问题。

9 infectious   

adj.传染的，有传染性的，有感染力的

参考例句：

• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。
• What an infectious laugh she has!她的笑声多么具有感染力啊！

10 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

11 acceptable   

adj.可接受的，合意的，受欢迎的

参考例句：

• The terms of the contract are acceptable to us.我们认为这个合同的条件可以接受。
• Air pollution in the city had reached four times the acceptable levels.这座城市的空气污染程度曾高达可接受标准的四倍。