Health clubs in California, Colorado and Minnesota are reopened or will be reopening by June 12, state officials have announced. The clubs were among non-essential businesses ordered closed in March to help stop the spread of COVID-19.
The only state still completely shut down is New Jersey, according to this map and list by the New York Times. However, California, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon and Tennessee have regional openings only, and several other states that are reopening, such as Illinois, New York and North Carolina, don't yet allow health clubs to reopen.
Following is information on three states that recently have allowed gyms to reopen or will soon allow them to do so.
California
The California Fitness Alliance, a group of fitness facility operators throughout California that formed in April, sent guidelines to local, county and state officials in May about how gyms can operate safely when they reopen. Clubs in the state have been closed since March 16 due to COVID-19.
On May 27, Francesca Schuler, CEO of In-Shape Fitness and one of the founders of the California Fitness Alliance, was on a roundtable call with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other fitness facility operators in the state after the state allowed business such as dine-in restaurants, shopping malls, salons and swap meets to reopen but not health clubs. The gym operators shared with the governor the importance of fitness centers to people’s health.
Just a few days later, Newsom announced that gyms will be able to reopen on June 12 depending on approval of county officials. The state offered 15 pages of specific guidelines that include:
- Implementing a COVID-19 prevention plan and training employees on the plan
- Taking the temperature of employees at the beginning of their shifts and screening members for COVID-19 symptoms. (The screening could include temperature checks or just asking about symptoms.)
- Requiring employees and members to use hand sanitizers
- Requiring employees and members wear face masks when possible within the facility
- Making face masks available to members if they forget to bring one
- Considering implementation of online reservation-based system to help limit the number of members inside the facility at the same time
- Posting signs reminding members of physical distancing guidelines and the recommendation to wear a face mask
- Evaluating and updating cleaning and disinfecting protocols at front desk, locker room, restrooms, changing areas and showers.
- Recommending the creation of a detailed schedule that may require modifying operating hours to allow for thorough disinfecting throughout the day
- Equipping all areas of the facility, including entrances and exits, with hand sanitizers and sanitizing wipes
- Requiring members to disinfect exercise equipment, mats and machines before and after each use using disinfecting wipes
- Supplying lined, touchless trash bins to dispose of used wipes.
- Having on hand “ready to clean” tags for equipment that members can’t or won’t disinfect so the equipment can be cleaned by staff prior to the next member using it
- Implementing a check-out system for accessories and creating a cleaning process for these accessories when they are returned
- Installing touchless, automatic water dispensers, where possible, to be used only with reusable water bottles or disposable paper cups that don’t touch the water dispenser
- Encouraging members to bring their own towels and mats
- Removing all magazines, books, self-serve water stations (unless they are touchless) and non-essential vanity items from the facility as well as removing all communal furniture or cordoning off member lounge areas
- Eliminating hand shaking, fist or elbow bumps and other physical contact
- Installing portable high-efficiency air cleaners, upgrading the facility’s air filters to the highest efficiency possible and making efforts to increase the quantity of air and ventilation systems, where feasible.
- Ensuring physical distancing of at least six feet between individuals inside
- Spacing equipment at least six feet apart with greater distancing for treadmills and other high-exertion cardio equipment.
- Installing Plexiglas or other barriers at the front desk
- Installing virtual, touchless check-in tools, if possible
- Considering suspending non-core activities, such as retail, spa, childcare and food service
- Suspending programs that require contact of less than six feet
- Considering offering special hours for high-risk members
“My experience in working with many of our state and local leaders during these past few months is whenever we have smaller conversations with leaders, most of them participate in fitness themselves and understand the importance,” Schuler told Club Industry after the roundtable with Newsom. “Our biggest opportunity is on a macro level is to educate on the critical importance of fitness as we are the only industry focused on prevention vs. treatment of many chronic illnesses. We are in the healthcare business. I am incredibly proud of how so many leaders in the fitness industry came together quickly to share best practices, learn from other global leaders, do extensive research and set very high standards to prepare to open our clubs and studios in the safest way possible. It is an example of our commitment to the health and safety of our communities.”
Colorado
Fitness facilities were allowed to reopen in Colorado on June 5 under certain guidelines that included:
- Conducting temperature checks of employees
- Implementing physical distancing of 6 feet
- Encouraging members and staff to wear masks
- Limiting capacity at indoor facilities to the lesser of 25 percent capacity or 50 people per room, as long as the six-foot distancing can be maintained.
- Limiting pools to 25 percent capacity or up to 50 people.
- Limiting pool use to lap swimming.
- Limiting team sports to 25 players.
- Requiring reserved workouts or using electronic capacity monitoring systems to limit participants and allow for spacing requirements.
- Cleaning and disinfecting equipment before and after each use.
- Using fans and opening windows to maximize ventilation
- Providing hand sanitizer for member use
Minnesota
Minnesota will allow gyms to reopen on a limited basis on June 10.
To reopen, gyms must:
- Implement a COVID-19 preparedness plan
- Ensure social distancing of six feet between people.
- Limit occupancy to no more than 25 percent without exceeding 250 people indoors or outdoors
- Encourage staff and members to wear masks
- Establish a disinfection routine and train staff on it
- Ensure at least six feet of distance between equipment
- Limit group exercise only to classes where distancing requirements can be maintained and where there is no physical contact