Peloton cancels live classes after employee tests positive for coronavirus

Exercise company originally wanted to resume live classes this week

Peloton cancels live classes after employee tests positive for coronavirus (Getty)

Peloton has announced it will be suspending live classes after an employee tested positive for coronavirus.

On Monday, the fitness company shared the decision in a blog post, where it said it had decided to “pause live production at both our New York and London studios through Thursday 30 April”.

According to the exercise bike company, which broadcasts live cycling, treadmill and strength classes, in the interim, it will “continue to monitor the situation as it evolves”.

The announcement comes after Peloton told subscribers in its official Facebook group that a New York employee had tested positive for coronavirus last week and that it had ceased airing live classes from that location, but that it planned to resume airing new classes on Tuesday, according to CNN.

Prior to cancelling live classes, the company had been broadcasting the classes with a “skeleton crew of just the instructor, production assistant, and cleaning member through the end of last week,” The Verge reports - a decision that had divided subscribers, as many expressed concern over the safety of Peloton’s employees.

“I can't believe that they were that incompetent to still be holding live classes. How many deaths does it take before people take this seriously,” one person tweeted.

Another said: “The fact that you were still running live classes when EVERYONE was at risk speaks more to your desire for $$$ than health. Apologise for your stupidity!!”

According to the company, members will now have access to the “thousands of classes across 10 fitness disciplines available on-demand,” as well as new pre-recorded content.

Peloton will also be introducing additional Encore classes - pre-recorded classes which offer a “fresh Leaderboard to recreate a live experience”.

The Independent has contacted Peloton for comment.

You can find a list of the best online exercise classes here.