Gym goers will finally have the chance to chase the pump again, after getting the green light from the state to reopen next week.
On Monday, Aug. 17, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, gave the go ahead for gyms and fitness centers across the state to begin preparations to reopen with several new protocols in place. Gyms will be allowed to resume operations as as soon as Aug. 24 and no later than Sept. 2., with that decision resting in the hands of the local jurisdiction.
“This is a whole new topic that we’re going to have to do a lot of work on,” Cuomo said, “to help ensure gyms and fitness centers reopen safely and protect the public health.
In order to reopen, gyms and fitness centers will have to restrict capacity to 33%; masks will have to be worn at all times by users; members will have to provide contact information when signing in and allow for a mandatory health screening; gym goers must maintain 6-feet of social distancing while there; water fountains will be turned off; gyms that offer classes will be by reservation or appointment only; staff must clean and disinfect equipment after every use; cleaning and disinfecting supplies must also be available to customers; and every gym must have their ventilation system of a certain grade.
Gyms in Westchester will have to undergo inspections by the county Health Department either prior to opening or within two weeks of opening to ensure all requirements are being met in accordance with state Department of Health guidance, according to Cuomo.
Part of the governor’s confidence in reopening gyms and fitness centers comes from the continual downward trend of COVID-19 infection rates across the state. As of Tuesday, Aug. 18, the statewide infection was 0.8% and had remained under at 1% or lower for more than 20 days.
Danielle Kelly, a New Rochelle resident, is excited to get back to her fitness routine. She plans to return to her gym, LA Fitness in Port Chester, once it reopens, but said she’ll make sure to be extra cautious. “I do think requiring masks is a good idea because we don’t really know what’s going on with the virus yet,” Kelly said. “So, I feel taking every precaution should be done until we know more about it.
Especially at the gym, you sweat more, you breath heavier, so you don’t want to take any risks.”
As part of the “NY Forward” economic reopening plan, gyms were initially slotted to reopen within the final Phase Fourcategory, which kicked off in Westchester County on July 7. But at the last minute, Cuomo pulled the plug on gyms, citing the need for the state health officials to continue to study the matter.
“We know gyms are highly problematic, not from our experience because we haven’t opened them, but we know from the other states,” Cuomo said at the time. Those states have “opened them and they’ve had to close them”
But his reluctance also led to some backlash.
Last month, 1,500 gym owners across the state filed a $500 million class-action lawsuit against the state, Cuomo, and the state Attorney General’s office. The lawsuit is seeking an injunction as well as damages as a result of the economic shutdown that has dragged on for gyms for more than five months, after Cuomo closed down the economy back on March 22 in response to the growing outbreak of coronavirus cases across the state.
Then on Aug. 6, a group representing hundreds of gym owners pitched a reopening plan to the governor during a pressconference outside of Cuomo’s Manhattan office, hoping to discuss safety protocols in an effort to save their drowning businesses.
CONTACT: chris@hometwn.com
