Orange County implements plan on re-opening of gyms

Posted 8/19/20

On Monday, August 17, Governor Andrew Cuomo stated that effective August 24, but no later than September 2, gyms can re-open across the State under the below circumstances. Gyms include standalones, …

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Orange County implements plan on re-opening of gyms

Posted

On Monday, August 17, Governor Andrew Cuomo stated that effective August 24, but no later than September 2, gyms can re-open across the State under the below circumstances. Gyms include standalones, hotel gyms, residential gyms, office gyms and fitness centers, gyms at higher education institutions, yoga/Pilates/barre studios, boxing/kickboxing gyms, fitness boot camps, CrossFit or other plyometric boxes, and other group fitness classes.

County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus has asked the County Health Department to undertake inspections to enable gyms to re-open in compliance with the Governor’s requirements. He is asking all gyms to email the following information to the Orange County Department of Health at envhealth@orangecountygov.com.

a. Legal name, address and phone number of gym.

b. Town, City, or Village where gym is located. This will enable inspections to be better coordinated.

c. Owner(s) of gym.

d. Name of responsible person at gym. This is the person or persons who will be responsible for ensuring ongoing compliance with the Governor’s requirements.

e. Plan to comply with the Governor’s requirements.

f. List of any health-related, pandemic response improvements the gym has made in 2020.

g. Posted occupancy limit of gyms (prior to the reduction to 33%).

h. State whether your gym offers indoor classes. Under Governor Cuomo’s rule, Counties must approve the offering of indoor classes.

i. Hours of operation when the gyms are available for inspection (must be between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday-Friday, weekends optional) through 9/7.

Neuhaus is also urging the Orange County IDA to make grants of up to $10,000 to small gyms (those employing less than 50 people) to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. Under a State law passed earlier this year, IDAs per permitted to make such grants. Gyms are seen as places where the virus can easily pass through the air. Therefore, making safety improvements and wearing masks always is seen as something that can significantly mitigate the chance of COVID-19 spread.

Orange County will then arrange inspections of the facilities. Gyms requesting inspection should plan on being open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday in order to facilitate inspection. If your facility is open and capable of being inspected on weekends, please supply that information. County inspectors will have County identification on them, may take photographs of the facility, and will ultimately leave gyms which pass inspection with a certificate of inspection. Key components of the Governor’s rules for gym re-opening are:

1. Capacity: 33% occupancy limit.

2. Masks must always be worn by staff, volunteers, visitors and patrons. Adequate signage must be posted conspicuously outlining masking requirement.

3. Protocols for staff who test positive for COVID-19, along with daily screening

4. Access: Sign-in with contact information and health pre-screening prior to entry required for staff, volunteers, visitors and patrons (containing at minimum questions listed below).

5. PPE: Appropriate face coverings always required.

6. Distancing: 6 feet of separation always.

7. Hygiene/Cleaning: Cleaning and disinfection supplies made available to customers; shared equipment cleaned after every use; staff must also be available to clean and disinfect equipment in between uses; rental equipment must be cleaned and disinfected between customer use.

8. Classes: All classes by appointment/reservation only; maximum class capacity capped at number of people that can adhere to the 6-feet social distancing rules, but in no case more than 33% of the typical class size (i.e., leave stations, cycles, etc. vacant); classes should be scheduled to allow additional time for cleaning and disinfection in between each session. Sign-in with contact information and health pre-screening prior to entry required for all classes. Screening questions must at least include the following:
Do you feel ill today?

Have you tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days?

Is there anyone in your household that has tested positive for, and/or experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 in the past 14 days?

Have you traveled outside of NYS to an area with high prevalence of COVID-19 in the past 14 days? If so, the person must follow the State’s travel advisory regulations.

Have you recently been tested for COVID-19 and currently awaiting results?