health + safety partnerships
WAM Clubs are proud to be a member of the Oregon Health & Fitness Alliance + International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA). Both partnerships are committed to getting everyone safely back to their health and fitness routines. We are making this commitment to reassure our members, local policymakers, and dedicated public health officials that we are focused on providing a safe environment for exercise during COVID-19.
Oregon Health & Fitness Alliance
The Alliance is committed to getting Oregonians safely back to their health and fitness routines.
About the Oregon HFA
We know how much health and fitness means to Oregonians. We are working together with state leaders, industry professionals and club members to get club members back to prioritizing their health and fitness. Many of our industry partners are passionate about our cause and the work we do, but we can’t do this important work alone!
During the COVID-19 crisis, the Oregon Health & Fitness Alliance has three primary objectives:
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REOPENING - Partner with state and local officials to set and define safe, effective reopening standards and guidelines.
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RELIEF - Seek federal and state aid and relief for the fitness industry, which has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
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RECOVERY - Make it easy for all members of our community to join their local club, studio, or gym by advocating for membership dues as an approved pre-tax health benefit.
International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA)
The Active & Safe Commitment is an initiative to reaffirm the health club industry’s unyielding dedication to safety at this time when exercise has never been more important to global health.
By participating in the Active & Safe Commitment, WAM Clubs joins health clubs around the globe in publicly pledging to follow industry best practices in four operational categories:
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Physical Distancing/Mitigation Measures
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Staff & Member Safety Protocols
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Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting
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Contact Tracing
University Research: Gyms Are Low Risk for COVID Transmission
In a recent article, the University of Oregon’s Consulting Group (OCG) was commissioned to study the association between health club attendance and COVID-19 cases using Colorado data as a proxy.
"In short, the findings are clear: health clubs do not pose the same risk as other venues like bars and restaurants."
"Additional analysis by the university group found a negative correlation between health club visits and COVID-19 positivity rates...Safety protocols, capacity restrictions, adequate ventilation, and other precautions health clubs have implemented may be impacting a negative correlation between attendance and COVID-19 positivity rates."
"The OCG analysis confirms what we already know: health clubs aren’t driving COVID-19 transmission. That latest study adds to the body of knowledge club operators have access to and lawmakers need to consider when mandating business closures. More on the University of Oregon’s findings will be available on OCG’s LinkedIn page."