As the majority of the country attempts to return to normal, people have been wondering when New York gyms and fitness facilities would reopen. Now it seems this will be happening very soon.
As the current global health crisis wrecked havoc, New York was one of the hardest regions of the United States to be affected. Therefore it came as no surprise that this was one of the first places that shut down gyms and places of gathering. However once other places began reopening facilities, gym owners and members alike were calling for their businesses to resume to some level of activity again.
Finally there seems to be some movement in these efforts, as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that gyms and fitness facilities can begin opening on August 24th. Although the facilities are going to be under strict guidelines, this is still a huge step in the right direction. Moreover, as Bev Francis announced on her Instagram, this allows her gym, the highly beloved Powerhouse Gym to open it’s doors again.
“Dear Members & Guests:
We are so excited to announce that the #eastcoastmecca will be reopening on Monday, August 24.There will be many new rules and social distancing protocols that we must strictly enforce to remain open and we beg you all to be flexible and patient as we work together to adjust and adapt. Later this week we will provide more detail on the specific rules and regulations that will be in place on 8/24.
And as we mentioned before, all memberships will be extended by the time lost during the pandemic. So if your membership was active on March 16, then it will be active on August 24 when we re-open.
We can’t wait to see you!
– Steve & Bev”
This is a big improvement, as people like Bev and other gym owners have been struggling extraordinarily during the last several months. Not to mention, the East Coast Mecca is a staple for bodybuilding in the region. However it is not exactly business as usual, as facilities can only operate at 30% capacity, with people wearing face masks at all times. Furthermore, sign in forms will be required, to assist with contact tracing, as well as air filters to help prevent the transmission of the virus.
Obviously it is extremely beneficial to have gyms be able to open their doors in New York again. On the other hand, following these procedures is going to be the best way to have this, while maintaining safety. Hopefully this can take some of the pressure off of the shoulders of small business owners who could not make money with their facilities in this time.
