Even if you are fully vaccinated, experts warn that going back to the gym right now is not recommended.

“It is so much safer now than it was before,” said Dr. Bruce Hirsch, an infectious disease specialist in Manhasset, New York told Today. “But the COVID has a different personality every month or two. It’s sneaky, it’s changing, and this is a critical time.”

The year 2020 was “truly Armageddon” for the health club industry, according to analysts, who predict that 2021 will signal a “huge rebound” by the third quarter of this year. That hope is desperately needed for an industry in crisis.

While the COVID-19 vaccines certainly have fueled this optimism, Hirsch says he believes we still have a way to go before giving gyms the green light. Gyms have been a dangerous source of COVID-19 outbreaks because of their design and the fact people are working out in proximity with others while breathing heavily, according to Self.

Dr. Waleed Javaid, M.D., the director of infection prevention and control at Mount Sinai Downtown in New York, told Self that it is also up to each individual to weigh the risks and benefits of returning to the gym at this time.

“Is it necessary, is it vital, is it worth the risk?’ he asked.

If you have been fully vaccinated, and it has been two weeks since you received your second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, you still should consider reducing your risk of indoor workouts.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges all gym goers to wear masks even during high intensity activities. Hirsch adds that since the vaccines are not 100% effective it means 1 in 20 people can still get COVID-19.

“And most of the time, there are more than 20 individuals working out in a gym space,” he told Today. “So, I think it makes sense to wear a mask — not only for one’s protection, but to protect other people around us.”

Experts say that with the spread of COVID-19 variants, we are not sure of the vaccine’s efficacy against these mutants.

Hirsch added that gyms tend to be poorly ventilated spaces which increases the risk of viral transmission, so suggested that gym members assess the ventilation and air flow of their facility before rejoining.

“Some workout spaces might have low ceilings and be relatively crowded and not have a lot of ventilation, and that would be a higher risk in terms of passing on viral infections,” he said, according to Today.

Social distancing in group exercise classes can be challenging, say experts.

“Gyms can be difficult places to maintain social distancing and the volume of high-touch surfaces and objects make them uniquely challenging for infection prevention efforts,” Dr. Saskia Popescu, an infection prevention epidemiologist and biodefense researcher, told Vox.

Hirsch urged vaccinated people to reconsider returning to the gym, at least for another six to eight weeks. The expert advised sticking to outdoor exercise because of the safer air circulation and ultraviolet light.

“I’m hopeful that by the end of April, we’ll have a situation resembling normal,” he said. “But it depends on the epidemic. This virus has thrown so many curve balls over the course of the last year that we don’t know.”