Can you get corona in the sauna through sweat?

Since the start of the corona crisis, saunas have been allowed to open their doors again to visitors from 1 July. Are you planning to go back into the ‘sweat cage’? Then you must be wondering what role the spread of the coronavirus has in the sauna, where people sweat, it is hot and humid and there is often less ventilation.

According to the RIVM, the lung virus is only transmitted through droplets released by coughing or sneezing, not through sweat. Professor of immunology Ger Rijkers also tells RTL Nieuws that he is not aware of any studies showing that the coronavirus can be transmitted through sweat. “The virus is present in the blood. But sweat glands have no contact with the bloodstream, so the transmission through sweat is very limited.”

Measures

In addition, saunas must adhere to strict rules and have taken the necessary measures for this. For example, in addition to a distance of one and a half meters and extra hygiene measures, only a limited number of visitors are allowed: one visitor per ten square meters. You have to book a time slot in advance and there is a health check at the entrance. If a sauna has any doubts about your health, they can measure your temperature and deny you access if necessary. Furthermore, in many saunas new air filters have been installed or the air filter system has been raised, so that there is more ventilation. In addition, they work with stickers that indicate where you can sit.

Temperature and humidity

If sweat isn’t a risk, what about the higher temperature and humidity in the saunas? RIVM does not expect a high temperature to promote the spread of the virus. In fact, high temperatures would render the virus inactive even faster.

With regard to the higher humidity, the institute says that the smallest droplets, aerosols, remain in the air longer. They do not spread as far, especially in an environment with little ventilation. It is still unclear whether aerosols can cause the spread of the coronavirus. If that is the case, then the chance is very small, according to the institute. The dose of virus in the aerosols is usually not enough to infect someone.

So there is a very small risk, but given all the measures that saunas have taken, you can safely go there again. It just won’t be like it used to be (for now).