Coronavirus: Neighbourhood start social-distance-friendly Zumba club

A group of neighbours in Utah have started a social-distancing-friendly exercise group.

Heather Doney and Erin Stewart of Saratoga Springs organised an energetic Zumba class for the community while maintaining social distancing guidelines, holding the class outside and keeping safe distances between participants, CTV News reported.

Ms Doney, who is a former Zumba instructor, led the class from her backyard porch.

Households followed Ms Doney’s routine from the safety of their own gardens and balconies, separated from one another by gardens and patios.

Ms Doney told the network that the workout served as a great morale booster for the community.

Her husband told the broadcaster that the neighbourhood had a lot of fun during the class and that they plan on organising them a couple of times a week.

Elsewhere across the state, the Utah State Library is also getting creative to try to engage people during the pandemic, streaming a story time every morning at 10 on their Facebook page.

Utah confirmed a total of 298 Covid-19 cases by Tuesday, up from 257 Monday, according to KUTV.

Utah Governor Gary Herbert announced on Tuesday that the state would be restricting all nonessential medical, dental, and veterinary procedures to conserve protective equipment needed by doctors treating patients with Covid-19.

On 21 March the governor also recommended residents avoid gatherings larger than 10 and that individuals over 60 and those who are immunocompromised avoid contact with others.