SARS CoV-2 virus or COVID-19, or simply coronavirus is the most talked about topic worldwide right now. Not much is known about coronavirus, or how it will evolve in the future.
Does coronavirus die in the sauna?
Should you take a sauna if you suspect having caught coronavirus?
Can I take a sauna when I am sick?
What to do in the sauna during the coronavirus pandemic?
All of these questions are answered in this article called “coronavirus and what to do in a sauna during the pandemic”. If you have any comments, questions or information you would like to share, feel free to contact me. I promise to do my best to find answers to your questions and share them here on my blog.
The internet is full of articles, blogposts and information about the coronavirus and sauna. Sadly, from what I have seen, a great deal of it is misleading and potentially harmful.
In this article, I aim to provide my readers with the most accurate information available at the moment. I would still like to remind you that things might change rapidly and there aren’t any long-term scientific studies about the topic yet.
For this article, I got a chance to interview a doctor from the Helsinki University Hospital. It was a great help, so thank you very much!
At the end of this article, I also listed some nice and relaxing things you can do in your own sauna.
At present, public saunas and spas are closed both in Finland and here in Germany (and in many other parts of the world). In Finland, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare has given out an order that prohibits gatherings of more than 10 people.
Read more: Coronavirus COVID-19 (Finnish)
A 2002 study by VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland) found that most microbes die at a temperature of 50-60 degrees in a few minutes. We cannot say for sure if coronavirus dies at this temperature, as no studies have been carried out yet.
Read more: VTT research (Finnish)
Does coronavirus die in the sauna?
There is no evidence that taking a sauna after being exposed to the virus helps prevent infection. The virus is transmitted through the air as an aerosol and enters the body mainly through lung cells.
The virus must be in or on your body for the infection to progress. Taking a sauna after exposure does nothing to prevent the infection.
Whether exposure leads to infection or not, has nothing to do with taking or not taking a sauna. The temperature in the sauna is hot enough to possibly kill the virus, but our body temperature stays the same even when we are in the sauna. Body temperature of 50-60 degrees would be fatal. In other words: you would first have to kill the body in order to kill the virus inside it.
Your best bet is to properly wash yourself using soap. The virus does probably not live long on sauna benches (due to the high temperature) but the shower rooms are trickier in terms of temperature and humidity.
As we are trying to slow down the spreading process, it is crucial to keep contact with other people to a minimum. Consequently, public saunas should stay closed.
Most Finns (and people in general) have a bath or a shower at home, so it is not necessary to use public saunas.
You should always act as if you were infected in order to protect others.
This advice was given by an expert from the University Hospital.
Read more: Does sauna help with coronavirus? – An expert debunks myths circulating on social media (Finnish).
Can I take a sauna when I am sick?
As a rule of thumb, you should not take a sauna if you have fever or you suffer from muscle ache. If your symptoms are very mild, for example a runny nose or a light cough, then you can take a sauna, as long as it feels good.
You should always listen to your own body. Never do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable, do not stay in the sauna for too long and leave if you start feeling any worse. When cooling off, make sure you do not get exposed to the cold. Linked below, is a Finnish article about the topic.
Read more: A sauna researcher tells you when a sauna is not good for you
What to do in the sauna during the pandemic?
Now, let’s say you are feeling fit and you have your own sauna at home. This is the time to enjoy your sauna and its many health benefits.
Focus on yourself and enjoy the warmth of the sauna. Sauna is scientifically proven to lower high blood pressure and reduce the symptoms of stress. I would even argue that taking a sauna helps with coronavirus-related anxiety better than any other means of relaxation.
Read more: Sauna health benefits
A few tips on what to do in the sauna during the pandemic:
- Body and face scrubs
- Face masks
- Hair masks
- Footbaths
- Peat-treatments
- Sauna Yoga
- Different games with children
- Bath Products
You can also order wonderful Finnish sauna products directly from your home and support small entrepreneurs!
Read more: How to order sauna products internationally
Sauna Yoga
Did you know that you can also do yoga in the sauna? You can find great sauna-yoga workouts on YouTube.
Read more: What is SaunaYoga?
Tips for taking a sauna with children
My blogpost gives you tips on taking a sauna with children and how children can enjoy the sauna longer. This is hardly a problem for Finnish children!
Read more: 5 tips for taking a sauna with children
Sauna care
As time goes on, you might start feeling like you have nothing to do. You have already cleaned the entire apartment, so why not clean your sauna next? Saunas should be properly cleaned 2-3 times a year.
Read more: How the clean the sauna
And don’t worry if you do not to have any sauna detergents at hand. You can also clean the sauna with products found in your kitchen cabinet. They are great and environmental-friendly.
Read more: How to wash the sauna ecologically – 9 tips (available in Finnish)
I know that it is not necessary to oil the sauna benches, but my blog has instructions on how to do it correctly. Remember that you should only oil a clean sauna.
Read more: How to treat sauna wood with oil
My own experience
I am in a lucky position because we have our own sauna in our basement. I am so grateful for it as all public saunas and spas are closed.
We are used to take a sauna about once a week. Now that the pandemic is on, we take a sauna twice a week. I would love to go to the sauna every night, but somehow, I just do not seem to find the time.
Every time you sit on those sauna benches, you just feel so good. Your mind is clear, and all those coronavirus anxieties go away for a while.
Coronavirus and sauna
- The coronavirus is transmitted as a droplet infection and you can get it anywhere. Even on the sauna benches if someone sneezes at you.
- After you have an infection, sauna is of no help.
- If you are infected and especially if you have a fever, taking a sauna is not recommended.
- Sauna does not cure or act as a preventative against COVID-19 virus.
- In accordance with general guidelines, it is advisable to avoid saunas in public places.
- Go to the sauna only if you are healthy.
If you have a sauna, now it is the time to make the most of it! Why not take a sauna today?
Remember to take care of yourself and others!
Let’s enjoy our own sauna, especially during this pandemic!
My sources:
THL (Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare) website
Interview with a doctor from the Helsinki University Hospital
