Protecting Yourself & Staying Healthy - Coronavirus (COVID-19)

It is important that all of us take responsible precautions to reduce the spread of the Coronavirus and keep up to date on the status of risk from the appropriate government health authorities.

Prescription to Get Active (RxTGA) continues to monitor updates from Federal and provincial health authorities regarding the Coronavirus. It has been announced that many businesses open to the public, including a number of recreation & fitness centres, are closing as part of a comprehensive society-wide approach to reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Keep Active!

Our website has a number of options to keep active outdoors or in your home if you are not interested in visiting a recreation/fitness facility during this unique time period. Visit our Resources, Activities and Online website sections for more details.

Benefits of Exercise and Infections

Exercise helps decrease your risk of many types of disease and supports a healthy immune system. James Turner, professor of health sciences at the University of Bath has indicated that exercise in fact will probably lesson the risk of infections.

There are caveats, though. If you have not been exercising, now is not the ideal time to start an extremely ambitions and tiring new workout routine until you consult with your physician. Moderate physical activity will do for those who are just starting their active routine. For more information on exercise intensity, please visit the CSEP – Physical Activity Guidelines.

Benefits of Exercise on Stress

We are in an unusual and stressful time in history with the on-set of the Coronavirus. Exercise can help with the reduction of depression and anxiety: This is explained by increased levels of serotonin and dopamine or “feel good” brain chemicals that are released when one is physically active. Keep up or start and exercise routine to help reduce your stress level.

If you are accessing a public exercise facility, Protect Yourself and Others

During your exercise routine do not ignore the basic hygiene and common-sense activities:

1. Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after exercise.
2. Skip workouts if you feel unwell.
3. If you go to a gym, scan your own bar code access card.
4. Wipe down areas on the equipment that you will be touching and have touched before and after use with a sanitary wipe.
5. use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available.
6. when coughing or sneezing: cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand.
7. dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined waste basket and wash your hands afterwards.
8. avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

Stay healthy and be well!