Randomized Re-Opening of Training Facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic

TRAiN study group,; Bretthauer, M.

BackgroundClosed training facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic may negatively impact peoples health and wellbeing. We investigated SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission, Covid-19 and SARS-CoV-2 antibodies attributable to training facilities. MethodsWe randomised members aged 18 to 64 without relevant comorbidities at five training facilities in Oslo, Norway, to access or no access to their facility. Facilities opened May 22, 2020 for the training arm, applying physical distancing (1 meter for floor exercise, 2 meters for high-intensity classes) and enhanced hand and surface hygiene. We compared SARS-CoV-2 RNA status by self-administered naso-, oropharyngeal and sputum sampling after 14 days; clinical disease through electronic patient records after 21 days; and SARS-CoV-2 antibody status by dried-blood self-sampling after one month. (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT04406909) Findings3,764 individuals were randomised; 1,896 in the training and 1,868 in the no-training arm. In the training arm, 81.8% trained at least once, and 38.5% trained [≥]six times. Of 3,016 individuals who returned the SARS-CoV-2 RNA tests (80.5%), there was one positive test. The positive individual was randomised to training, but had not used the training facility, and the workplace was identified as transmission source. There were no outpatient visits or hospital admissions due to Covid-19 in either group. Eleven individuals in the training arm (0.8% of tested) and 27 in the no-training arm (2.4% of tested) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (p=0.001). InterpretationProvided good hygiene and physical distancing measures, there was no increased transmission of SARS-CoV-2 at training facilities. FundingNorwegian Research Council, grant no. 312757