group

Alberta fitness studios confused by COVID-19 restrictions on group classes, workouts

The Alberta government’s recent COVID-19 restrictions are impacting smaller fitness studios and many owners admit is a bit confusing.

Orange Theory Fitness ensures sanitization of all equipment.

© Jill Croteau/Global News
Orange Theory Fitness ensures sanitization of all equipment.

According to new health guidelines announced Tuesday, gyms all group classes aren’t allowed. Fitness studios, like Revive Lifestyle Fitness, can’t do group training or semi-private training. Owner Mike Du said they are only allowed to conduct one on ones, if a coach is involved.

Read more: The New Reality: The uncertain future of fitness studios

He says the problem is gyms can still have a group of members working out together, physically distanced. The trainer has to be kept outside the room. For Du, the logic doesn’t make sense.

“It’s hard for us to understand, part of it is about the coach pushing people in a way that’s high intensity and breathing hard,” Du said. “But there’s nothing stopping people from doing that if we put 12 people in there working out on their own.”

Guidelines don’t allow even a handful of participants to be led by a professional, even if it’s fewer numbers than a group without a trainer.

“As long as you have a group bigger than one you can’t have a coach present,” Du said.

These new rules are contradictory to the whole fitness model of some studios, ones that rely on the motivation of a trainer. Tricia McDonald owns Orangetheory Fitness in Airdrie.

“Typically we would have 24 people in here. But in this location we are capping it at 10 to 12 people per session,” McDonald said. “That means they are always physically distanced in the class. But there’s nobody coaching you into it anymore, so you have to essentially coach yourself.”

McDonald admits it is challenging but is grateful to be able to give clients the space to workout.

“To be able to pivot like this and stay open for them is so important to us right now,” McDonald said.

Orangetheory is preparing to launch a new platform called “Orangetheory Live” to adapt to the new guidelines.

“These will be coach inspired workouts you do in the safety of your own home,” McDonald said. “It’s not virtual, we are still connecting because the coach is there inspiring you, cheerleading you, correcting form and its much more than typical virtual workout.”

Video: Lethbridge fitness studio offers rent-a-bike program through COVID-19 restrictions

medicine

Precision Medicine Group Secures Major Investment from Blackstone

NEW YORK & BETHESDA, Md.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Precision Medicine Group (PMG) and Blackstone (NYSE: BX) today announced that PMG, a leading next-generation provider of drug development and commercialization services, has completed a major investment and recapitalization led by funds managed by Blackstone (“Blackstone”). The investment includes significant participation from Precision’s co-founders, Ethan Leder and Mark Clein, as well as current shareholders Berkshire Partners, TPG Growth, Oak HC/FT, and Vida Ventures.

Bethesda, Maryland-based PMG is a leading provider of mission-critical services to help biopharmaceutical companies conduct clinical trials and bring novel therapies to market by integrating deep therapeutic knowledge, data and analytics, and human expertise. With precision medicine as its foundation, PMG’s specialized capabilities enable the development and delivery of more targeted treatments for patients, addressing the next wave of innovation in global health advancement, expanded access, and outcomes improvement.

This new round of investment will fuel the expansion of PMG’s global footprint and technical capabilities to help accelerate the development, approval, and commercial reach of breakthrough treatments from life science innovators. Blackstone’s deep understanding of the drug development process and extensive operating resources will help deliver significant value to the partnership.

Mark Clein, PMG CEO, said: “We are thrilled to have Blackstone join us for this next phase of growth. Their serious commitment to the life sciences and global scope and scale make them an ideal partner to support our vision of success and expanded capabilities for the next generation of bio-pharma innovators.”

Julia Kahr, a Senior Managing Director at Blackstone, said: “PMG has built a compelling set of services that address the most important challenges facing biopharmaceutical and diagnostic companies. We are eager to back Mark and Ethan and the highly talented employees around the world to support their deep and ongoing commitment to PMG’s clients and look forward to pursuing the immense opportunity ahead by leveraging new technologies, expertise, and scale. We are also delighted to be joining Berkshire, TPG Growth, Oak HC/FT, and Vida to help accelerate this success.”

Anushka Sunder, Managing Director at Blackstone, added: “We have high conviction in the unprecedented wave of innovation PMG’s clients are driving in personalized medicines and novel drug mechanisms, especially in oncology and rare disease. PMG integrates deep science, extensive biomarker and genetic data, evidence of economic value, and market access insights to improve the speed, cost, and success rates of bringing life-changing therapies to patients. We are excited to support the continued expansion of PMG’s platform and broad therapeutic reach.”

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as lead financial advisor to PMG. Jefferies LLC and Perella Weinberg Partners also acted as financial advisors to PMG and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP acted as legal advisor to PMG. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, and Barclays acted as financial advisors and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP acted as legal advisor to Blackstone. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Precision Medicine Group:

Formed in 2012, Precision Medicine Group is a specialized services company supporting next generation

Nautilus Group, Inc. (The) (NYSE:NLS), lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) – Exclusive: Nautilus CEO On Fitness During COVID-19, The Company’s Answer To Peloton

Nautilus Inc (NYSE: NLS) CEO Jim Barr chatted with Benzinga’s PreMarket Prep team to discuss the turnaround of the company, what’s next in the connected fitness world and why the stock is still attractive after a 1,000% increase in 2020.

Nautilus Mounts Turnaround During Pandemic: The CEO discussed the turnaround he helped steer since taking over the company in July.

Nautilus just reported its “most profitable quarter in its 40-year history,” Barr said.

Barr joined Nautilus from Ritchie Bros, where he helped the 60-year-old company with its digital transformation.

“I came here because this is a great company with fantastic brands and a broad portfolio of different types of products at different price points.”

A survey done by Nautilus showed that between 12% and 30% of respondents will never go back to the gym, while others said they would only go back to gym with a vaccine. Some will balance a gym membership with at-home fitness.

The gym membership market is worth $40 billion compared to the $3.6-billion at-home fitness market, Barr said, adding tha tthis could change over time.

Nautilus saw seven times more new customers in the recently reported quarter than the prior year, which he sid could lead to long-term growth.

Competing With Peloton: Nautilus was late to the connected fitness game, Barr said: “We missed some trends in market.”

The company had to accelerate the portfolio after realizing it didn’t have a replacement for its Max Trainer, he said — and the company wasn’t digital enough.

The first Bowflex bike launched by Nautilus is half the price point of Peloton Interactive (NASDAQ: PTON) offerings and allows an open software platform, which are key differentiators, Barr said.

Nautilus recently launched the VeloCore bike under the Bowflex brand. “We think we have a real winner here,” the CEO said.

The VeloCore bike is the first “unstationary” bike that can lean from side to side and offers a better core and arm workout than competitive products.

Nautilus’ digital membership platform Journey offers trainer-led on-demand videos and adaptive workouts.

People can watch Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) or other streaming apps in the background while being coached or working out.

Barr pointed to the “combination of the differentiated product and connected fitness” as being a game-changer for the VeloCore.

Nautilus Stock Performance, Valuation: Barr said the timing of the Nautilus earnings announcement on Monday with Pfizer’s vaccine news was bad news for the stock.

“Those two things happening the same day didn’t help our stock.”

Shares of Nautilus are up over 1,000% in 2020.

Barr pointed to Mirror selling to Lululemon Athletica (NASDAQ: LULU) for around 5x sales. Peloton also has a higher price-to-sales ratio than Nautilus, Barr said.

“Those valuations are fantastic.”

Watch the full interview with Jim Barr in the clip below, or listen to the podcast here

PreMarket Prep is a daily trading show hosted by prop trader Dennis Dick and former floor trader Joel Elconin. You can watch PreMarket Prep live every day from 8-9 a.m. ET Benzinga’s

Are Group Fitness Classes Safe During the Pandemic? | The Strategist

Photo: Cole Burston/Getty/Getty Images

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, kettlebells and resistance bands have been hot commodities (right up there with toilet paper and hand sanitizer) as we pivoted from working out at the gym to exercising at home. Those of us who like the motivation of following along with an instructor turned to virtual workout classes on Instagram Live and other subscription platforms for our fitness fix. Streaming a class at home isn’t exactly the same as participating in person, though, especially if you enjoy the camaraderie of a group class or are tempted to press pause mid-workout. So when gyms and studios took their classes outside to parks and rooftops during the spring and summer to allow for social distancing (Physique 57, 305 Fitness, Barry’s, and Tone House are still offering outdoor classes throughout the city this month), working out almost started to feel normal again.

But what will we do when it gets too cold? Depending on local regulations, reopened gyms have introduced a variety of safety measurements. Crunch, for example, is limiting occupancy to one-third in many gyms and installing advanced air-filtration systems. Last month, Equinox opened Equinox+ In the Wild, a full outdoor gym near Hudson Yards that offers both ground classes and equipment for working out on your own. With heat lamps and tented areas, it’ll be a safe, outdoor option even as winter approaches.

Indoor group classes are currently not allowed in New York City, but if they do open up (or you live in an area where they’re happening), how can you best protect yourself and others from COVID? To find out, we asked two infectious-disease doctors — W. David Hardy of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Peter Katona of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA — about everything from exercising with a mask to sharing equipment.

Both doctors agree that, weather permitting, outdoor classes are still the way to go. “If you’re outdoors, you’ve got sunlight, you’ve got temperature, you’ve got air currents — you’ve got all these things working in your favor,” Katona says. But if you don’t have that option and you find yourself in an indoor class, there are steps that you and your gym can take to make the experience as safe as possible.

One thing to look out for is how well your studio promotes air circulation, whether through leaving doors or windows open or maintaining a high-quality HVAC system. Class capacity should also be far smaller than in normal times to allow for distancing — lots of distancing. “Six feet would be the bare minimum,” Hardy says, “because while you’re exercising, you are breathing forcefully.” Those hard exhalations could cause you to expel more respiratory particles, and those particles could travel a longer distance compared to regular breathing. You should also

Michigan At Risk For ‘Imminent’ Coronavirus Outbreak, Group Says

MICHIGAN — Michigan is at risk for an imminent outbreak of the coronavirus, according to the national nonprofit COVID Act Now.

The website, which updated its status for Michigan Friday, reported that Michigan is either actively experiencing an outbreak or is at extreme risk. The site reports that coronavirus cases are growing in Michigan and its preparedness is significantly below international standards.

According to COVID Act Now, Michigan is averaging a 25.7 new cases per 100K people, which is calls a “dangerous” number.

Don’t miss important updates from health and government officials on the impact of the coronavirus in Michigan. Sign up for Patch’s daily newsletters and email alerts.

The infection rate in Michigan is 1.23 as active cases increase rapidly, according to the site.

Michigan has an adequate testing amount, according to COVID Act Now, with a 6.4 percent positive test rate.

The state can likely handle a new wave of COVID-19 cases, according to the nonprofit, with 24 percent of ICU headroom used.

Michigan has seen an alarming trend recently, with the number of new cases growing and COVID-19 deaths increasing as well, according to state health officials.

On Thursday, the state reported its highest single-day increase in new COVID-19 cases, adding more than 3,600 cases. That came less than a week removed from its previous highest influx of new cases, and just a day after reporting its second-highest single-day increase.

State health officials on Thursday tightened restrictions on indoor gatherings and shifted the Traverse City region backward in the state’s reopening plan, saying that coronavirus hospitalizations have doubled in the last three weeks and the statewide death rate has risen for five straight weeks.

“The only way to beat COVID is to act on what we’ve learned since March,” MDHHS Director Robert Gordon said. “Wear masks. Keep six feet of distance. Wash hands. And avoid the indoor get-togethers where we have seen COVID explode.”

This article originally appeared on the Detroit Patch

States, medical group add independent COVID-19 vaccine review boards

Pressure to create a coronavirus vaccine is increasing by the day, but for a safe vaccine to enter the market, it takes time.

USA TODAY

At least five states – California, Nevada, New York, Oregon and Washington – and a Black medical group say they’ll conduct independent verification of any COVID-19 vaccines approved by Food and Drug Administration.

These review panels, which began popping up last month, are meant to instill public confidence and counter the political pall cast over COVID-19 vaccine development and approval. In recent weeks, faith has improved in the FDA’s commitment to base COVID-19 vaccines decisions in science, but the growing number of oversight groups seek to add another layer of trust.

And while some worry the independent review boards may hurt the effort, all agree establishing that trust is vitally important. A survey this month found only 58% of Americans said they would get vaccinated as soon as a vaccine became available.

“We would like to give Washingtonians the highest confidence that when a COVID-19 vaccine is available that it’s safe and works,” Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said of the pact.

The first push for oversight outside the FDA came Sept. 21, when the National Medical Association announced it would create an expert task force to review any decisions about COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. The association of Black physicians was founded in 1895 at a time when racism in medical groups excluded Black doctors.

“Questions of political influence on scientific process because of Operation Warp Speed (OWS), have threatened the public trust in the FDA that will adversely affect participation in clinical trials, especially in the African-American community,” the association said in its announcement.

The first state to launch an oversight group was New York, on Sept. 24. At the time there was significant concern in the scientific community the FDA was being pressured by the Trump Administration to approve a vaccine quickly in order to have it available by the presidential election.

It was an expectation President Trump has expressed in tweets, news conferences and during campaign rallies.

“The White House’s dispute with the FDA raises serious questions about whether or not the vaccine has become politicized,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Sept. 24.

“Frankly, I’m not going to trust the federal government’s opinion and I wouldn’t recommend to New Yorkers based on the federal government’s opinion. We’re going to put together our own review committee headed by the Department of Health to review the vaccine.”

The climate around vaccines began to shift on Sept. 8, when vaccine developers issued a public letter vowing to keep politics out of science. Soon after, and defying White House pressure, the FDA stood firm in requiring at least two months of safety data before a vaccine could be considered for release.

Still, last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state would create an independent 11-member Scientific Safety Review Workgroup to study the safety of COVID-19 vaccines as an added safeguard to any efforts

Auckland cemetery visitor slams exercise group running a loud fitness boot camp next to graveyard

Rest in beats: Mourning son paying his respects to his late father at a cemetery is interrupted by a fitness boot camp playing loud music

A man visited an Auckland cemetery to mourn his dead father on his birthday
His sacred silence was broken by a loud exercise boot camp blaring pop music
He asked them if they thought it was appropriate and they ‘seemed astounded’
The man filmed the group and sent the clip to the Purewa Cemetery Trust Board
The board manager said the exercise group was ordered to stop months ago

By Shive Prema For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 00:47 EDT, 28 October 2020 | Updated: 00:47 EDT, 28 October 2020

A mourning son has spoken of his anger after being interrupted while paying his respects to his father at a cemetery by a fitness group working out to loud music.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous, visited the Purewa Cemetery in Auckland, New Zealand, on Tuesday to visit his dad’s resting place.

But the sacred silence was broken by a fitness group blaring loud pop music, shouting instructions and jumping up and down.

Speaking to the New Zealand Herald, the man said the work out session should not have taken place there.

‘I go there on his birthday and the day he died every year. Suddenly I’m hearing music and these people are jumping up and down and someone yelling out, “one, two” and on further investigation I found these people having their fitness class,’ the man said.

‘I walked up to them and asked if it was really an appropriate place to be doing what they were doing. They seemed quite astounded that someone would be upset.

‘If you saw people hooning around and driving up and down playing loud music you’d say that wouldn’t be acceptable behaviour so I don’t see why running a fitness club in a graveyard is.’

The man decided to film the fitness group, which was made up of up to 15 people exercising outside of the chapel – just metres away from his father’s grave.

In the video, the group can be seen squatting and jumping to the tune of ‘If I Can’t Have You’ by Shawn Mendes while an instructor shouts: ’10 seconds, push it!’

In the video (screenshot pictured), the group can be seen squatting and jumping to the tune of ‘If I Can’t Have You’ by Shawn Mendes while an instructor shouts: ’10 seconds, push it!’

He sent the video in an email to the Purewa Cemetery Trust Board demanding that something be done about the workout group.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, board general manager Alastair Crombie said the group had been ordered to stop working out at the grounds months ago.

‘Historically, many years ago they were given permission by previous management to exercise under cover during winter but it was rescinded,’ Mr Crombie said.

‘Four or five, maybe even six months ago even, they were told they wouldn’t be able to continue

Group sees 14% increase in child Covid-19 cases with close to 800,000 US kids infected

The group, which represents pediatricians, says about 792,188 children have been infected in the US as of October 22. According to Johns Hopkins University, more than 8.6 million Americans have been infected with the novel coronavirus.

The AAP said 94,555 new child cases were reported from October 8 to October 22.

Severe illness and deaths from Covid-19 are still rare among children. As of October 22, children represented between 1% and 3.6% of total hospitalizations, depending on the state. Between 0.6% and 6.9% of all child Covid-19 cases resulted in hospitalization and in states that reported the information, up to 0.15% of all children with Covid-19 died. Sixteen states reported no child deaths.

The AAP said it started collecting this data in the absence of regular releases of information from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC provides a national number of cases by age in its data tracker, but the age data isn’t released on a regular schedule. The AAP reports on numbers of cases among children weekly.

With the CDC numbers it is also hard to know where the cases are coming from, as there are no geographic indicators provided with the CDC’s age data.

What you need to know about coronavirus on Monday, October 26

The AAP’s count is not totally complete, because not all states report data in the same way. The cases are likely undercounted, according to the organization. These numbers come from 49 states, New York City, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. A smaller subset of states report information about hospitalizations and deaths by age.

The AAP recommends that children wear masks, avoid large crowds and keep a healthy distance from others. It also suggests all children 6 months or older get a flu shot. Pediatricians say it’s even more important than ever to get a flu shot before the end of October.

With two respiratory diseases circulating at the same time –flu and coronavirus — will be confusing to doctors, parents and caregivers. Plus, hospitals and clinics could be overwhelmed with the double burden.

As another wave of the pandemic approaches, the nation's food banks are being hit on three fronts

The two viruses cause similar symptoms but a study published September in JAMA Network Open found that children hospitalized with Covid-19 were more likely to have fever, aches, diarrhea and vomiting than were children with the flu.

Children with Covid-19 also tended to be older and have at least one underlying health condition. Babies under a year old with certain underlying conditions such as asthma or diabetes may also be more likely to have severe illness from Covid-19.

Covid-19 and seasonal flu in children led to similar rates of hospitalization, intensive care admission, and need for a ventilator to help breathing, the study found. The CDC says 189 children died from flu over the 2019-2020 season.